Into the Valley of the Moonking

Great CD

Why I havnt heard this before im greatfull to discover retro sounding rock that bridges the gap in my more extreme leaning ,answers the question of why do I listen as this 70s inspired classic rock just sounds right and fills in the proverbial puzzle of listenology.

The British band Magnum, was formed in the early 70's, and Into the Valley of the Moonking (2009), sounds much like mainstream British rock from that decade. The retro style music is generally enjoyable, if you are not particularly interested in rocking out, however the band's appeal in 2009, might be mostly limited to their fans.Magnum does a variety of things, and ready comparisons to other bands may be tricky, as their music sort of tickles the edges of hard rock, but does not stay there long. Guitarist Tony Clarkin is the primary songwriter, and the emphasis seems to be on cohesive songs, rather than showcasing his guitar playing. The band sometimes makes some interesting decisions regarding song structure.The ambitious Blood on Your Barbed Wire Thorns, starts out like diluted ACDC, then adds honky tonk piano and slide guitar, before an orchestral assisted finish. The Moon King, is notable as the only bluesy number. It's quite nicely done, but it could have benefitted from more inspired guitar work. That seems to be true for many of the songs. The band probably rocks the hardest on Take Me to the Edge, but still manages to back off from delivering a crunching rocker. On the softer side, a couple of tunes are reminiscent of mellow 70's Elton John.Into the Valley of the Moonking, is an album that some might be surprised to discover was released in 2009. Part of the lyrics for the song All My Bridges, seem kind of appropriate to the situation, "All my bridges are broken, My direction is lost, Yesterday's caught in the past, I'm stuck here I can't get across". Stuck in the past is where Magnum seems to be. These veteran rockers are competent musicians, comfortable in their particular style. This is perfectly fine, but this many not garner them many new fans. While the album has its moments, it doesn't reach out and grab you, and offers little that is new or notable. It's faint praise, but if you know not to expect any breakout guitar solos, the album does seem to improve with repeated listenings.

Clarkin and the guys does it again!Magnum's "Into the valley of the moonking" is an awesome album.Of course, Magnum is a classic rock band and if you expect themto reinvent the wheel, this album won't live up to your expectations.That being said, if you're looking for Tony clarkin's amazing melodies, Bob Catley's haunting voice, well you won't be disapointed.After a cool keyboard intro, "Cry to yourself" is a mid tempo song that has a Beatles taste."All my bridges are broken" comes next and has a clear 80's vibe."Take me to the edge" is a hard driving rock number with a guitar riff that will make you bounce your head back and forth!Then "The moonking" comes next charged with a powerful bluesy guitar and the whole ambiance of the song comes to a musical climax at the chorus. I have to say that the keyboard line that makes the transition between the bridge and the chorus is just awesome! Clever and gives a powerful feeling to the song!"No one knows his name" mixes rock with a celtic feel in the chorus. Very good!"In my mind's eye" Great song with very deep lyrics."Time to cross that river" My least favourite song from the album. Not a bad song but just doesn't mesure up to the rest."If i ever lose my mind" Al Barrow's rich and powerful bass sound really blend in well to the overdrive guitar and makes a heavy rockin' chorus."A face in the crowd" Magnum were allways known to write some poignant ballads.Well, this one is one of their very best. The accoustic guitar of Clarkin, the beautiful piano lines and keyboard by Mark Stanway gets you right in the heart. Then Bob Catley's voice take the whole song to a stellar level!"Feels like treason" is another hard rock number and this time, Clarkin totally is the star of the song. Rock Riffs, melodical riffs i mean this song is loaded with Clarkin's genius!Then we say goodbye to the moonking with "Blood on your barbed wired thorns"A cool,straight forward rock song with a Beatles "Yeah,yeah,yeah" kind of chorus. Again, Al Barrow's bass really drives the rythmic of the song. A Lynyrd Skynyrd piano hybrid from Stanway gives a "smiley feel" to the song.These comments are only my personnal impressions. Nonetheless, if you're a Magnumfan, this album is a must have.

It is a nice album I have to admit. Yes, it is slightly cheesy but sounds good, I like vocals, melodies, guitars riffs.For some reason, after playing it 2 times I wanted to play the album again and again which does not happen to me often.Also, sound good in the car!I would not compare it with rock classics - it is a different category, but in its category it is pretty strong and nice album.

"Into the Valley of the Moonking" is my introduction to Magnum, and I must say it's fantastic. There's no filler to be found here. It's absolutely solid from beginning to end.The album has a classic rock sound but doesn't sound like it's trying to be classic rock; this owes itself to Tony Clarkin's strong songwriting throughout the album.The vocalist, Bob Catley, has an excellent voice. There's nothing off-putting about it, and it fits the music perfectly.I highly recommend this album to fans of '70s and '80s rock music.

At a time when most people had written this group off as perennial all so rans, Clarkin well and truly hit the jackpot with Princess Alice. Immediately accessible due to its lavish melodies and intricate craftsmanship, it was almost as if after years of trying Clarkin had literally stumbled across the perfect Magnum sound - a bit of Vigilante, a dollop of Story Teller and a dash of Eleventh Hour, all wrapped in a noughties context, both in the music style and the superb production. My only complaint was that it was a little too nutritious, a bit too slick to be a repeat player. Without much chance to find out we get a follow up to gorge on. Big question is whether Princess was a one off - a creative zenith not to be repeated. Well surprise, surprise, Clarkin has pulled it off again. The formula of Alice is obviously learnt and repeated here but the coup de grace is the fact that the strength of the predecessor is actually built upon. Moonking is not as accessible on first spin, but when listened to a few times the brilliance becomes apparent. Crunchy production has tightened and hardened up the guitar sound, but the songs' grandeur really lies in the perfect balance of Catley's singing and the rich melodies of the lavish keyboards. The drums sound more straight-forward than the last album, which, coupled with the beefier guitar, gives a bigger overall punch to the songs. Highlights abound, most notably in the beautifully crafted title track, but the whole works perfectly. This is possibly the most complete Magnum piece to date - shame it took Clarkin what seems like 200 years of trying (admirably) to achieve it. In a nut shell - beautifully crafted melodic and uplifting songs with great production and that all important Magnum passion holding the whole thing together. Brilliant.

There aren't many bands out there with over 30 years recording history who can knock out album after album of top quality material. Magnum are one of them. Guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin seems to have a bottomless reserve of material and 'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' is yet another masterwork.There has been a lot of criticism on these pages regarding the title of the record. I think it's a great title which marries itself to Rodney Matthews' cover artwork beautifully. Let's not forget the titles of previous Magnum albums over the years: 'Kingdom Of Madness', 'Chase The Dragon', 'On A Storytellers Night' and 'Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow'. The title of this latest record is hardly new territory.As for the music on '...Moonking', whereas the previous studio album 'Princess Alice...' was a colourful, powerful and at times boisterous set, this album is thoughtful and contemplative with a mellow feel. There's a fine mixture of electric and acoustic guitars, and Bob Catley's vocal sounds at times world weary which really gives the lyrics a genuine depth of emotion.Although 'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' has a more relaxed feel to other Magnum records, that's not to say there aren't any rockers on it. 'Take Me To The Edge' and 'Feels Like Treason' are big and powerful snorters with loads of crunching guitar and a thumping rythmn section. 'All My Bridges' is a classic Magnum toe-tapper, highly reminiscent of 1985's 'Just Like An Arrow'. 'Cry To Yourself' and 'In My Mind's Eye' are catchy with lots of radio friendly appeal and album closer, 'Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns' is a real grinder with an AC/DC style riff and a gorgeous orchestral outro.This album is really about the slower, more melodic tracks and in that it really delivers. 'Moonking' is a dark, brooding number with a bluesy guitar. 'No One Knows His Name' and 'Time To Cross The River' are bleak, yet beautiful and brilliantly underplayed, the latter featuring a gorgeous acoustic guitar solo from Clarkin.'A Face In The Crowd' is one of my favourites on the album, which like the aforementioned tracks is deep and thoughtful, yet has the kind of big anthemic chorus that only Magnum can deliver.'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' is a rustic, quintessentially British rock album with all the melodic charm that the band have been delivering for years. Tony Clarkin's guitarwork is as sagely as ever and the sheer talent of the man is evident on every track. Bob Catley sings his little heart out, and although his vocal might not have the same power it once had, it's compensated by more feeling than ever, and a genuine warmth which suits this set of songs perfectly. Mark Stanway's keyboards add depth and character to the music and the rythmn section of Al Barrow and former Thunder drummer Harry James gives weight and power to what is largely a mid tempo batch of songs. The wealth of experience and professionalism on display here means that the band breeze through the more technical aspects of the music effortlessly, making 'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' the most mature album Magnum have ever recorded and by far the best 'classic rock' album you'll hear in 2009. All in all, highly recommended.

I've left this a while before writing a review, I think I rushed my 'Alice' review by doing it the day after I received it...although, as I listen back to it, I mainly stand by my review!Moonking is one I've let myself savour first. Magnum have never disappointed, and you have to remember, we're all getting older!I rate this above 'Alice' (which I rated in my Top 5 Magnum), although it is close, there is one main reason - the overall quality of the songs are slightly better and more varied.This album is still undoubtedly Magnum, but I can hear ACDC (proper..with Bon Scott!!) as clear as ever on the intro to 'Barbed Wire', then there are the few lines in the chorus that are pure Ian Astbury, and I didn't even like The Cult! And can you love a song just for the title? Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns - classic!For those who didn't get enough 'Rock' from 'Alice', check out 'Take me to the edge'....it sure rocks!'The Moonking' itself is an epic, and 'Time To Cross That River' was the first to imprint itself after initial listen.Anyway, enough of my drivel, if you've loved anything by them before - buy it....and if you've never heard of them - buy it anyway! Okay, providing you love Rock music, of course!!

Not there best album by a far way, but this one takes me back to MAGNUM of the early 80s for some reason, maybe its hearing acoustic guitar and piano again, 4 songs really stand out for me, Cry To Yourself → a really catchy chorus and some nice guitar work,Time To Cross That River→ acoustic work by Tony Clarkin very good, A Face In The Crowd → this is the one that Bob Catley shows what a great vocalist he is, and then there's one of those very good last tracks that MAGNUM seem to pull off on most of there albums, Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns→ a big time song with lots of twists and turns, also comes with a very good DVD.

Magnum keep producing top class albums this is no exception. I have a slight preference for their commercial rock but the bass adds toa wall of sound on heavier tracks. The Moonking offers a change of tempo with a good hook. No one knows his name excellent but eachtrack on this fine album is worthy of merit. If you ask any Magnum fan what their favourite album is you can expect 10 different answerssuch is their consistency .Magnum are leaning towards heavy nowadays but vocals are still decent and the song writing is impressiveLatest album Divine lies even heavier but after a few plays its another belter.