Let There Be Rock's Best Album of 2024

🏆 Best Album of 2024

Magnum - 'Here Comes The Rain'

In the music industry there are only a select few who make a career spanning fifty years, and even less that remain consistently at the top of their game. British rock band Magnum formed in 1972, and have released an impressive collection of 23 studio albums throughout their lengthy career. Massively underrated and often overlooked, the band headed by vocalist Bob Catley, and until his untimely passing early in 2024, guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin, have been the at the helm of one the greatest ever rock bands. Few bands can be as instantly identifiable by their sound, and Magnum’s twenty third album ‘Here Comes The Rain’ unveiled on the 12th January 2024, via SPV Steamhammer, was no different. Released only 5 days after Tony Clarkin passed away, the album has served as a fitting parting gift from a man who, in my opinion was incapable of ever writing a bad song.

Magnum - 'Here Comes The Rain' (2024)

Prior to the album release the first single came in the form of ‘Blue Tango’, a track ever so typical of the Magnum style, radio friendly, feel good, and a perfect rocker to capture the attention. This was followed up by quite possibly one of my favourite tracks on the album, ‘The Seventh Darkness’. There’s no mistaking the fact that the unique combination of Tony and Bob bring that typical Magnum trademark sound to every album, but to the surprise of listeners the second single perfectly incorporates some extra elements in the form a brass section, this is courtesy of guest musicians Chris ‘BeeBe’ Aldridge (saxophone) and Nick Dewhurst (trumpet), who complement Tony’s guitar and add that extra depth to the track, really making it stand out on the album.

The album as a whole shifts in tempo from track to track, like a well written story with instrumental arrangements taking you on a musical journey of eclectic emotions. The slower tracks like ‘Some Kind of Treachery’, ‘The Day He Lied’ and ‘Broken City’ blend theatrical arrangements, keyboard solos and Bob Catley’s ageless vocals, providing that progressive tinge without going full on Rick Wakeman. Whilst the rockier numbers have you tapping along with their instant feel good sounds and mood lifting energy.

Over the years Magnum have been no strangers to a long track, or even long instrumental elements, however this album is nicely balanced averaging around 4 and half to 5 minutes per song, so it seems quite fitting that the longest is the final track, ‘Borderline’. In this track Clarkin plays his swan song, one final guitar solo before a shift in tempo, a piano melody fading out, and with that, the album concludes and the curtain closes for their twenty third studio album. A final masterpiece with an air of sadness that fans won’t get to see Clarkin perform these songs live.

Once again the album’s highly inspired artwork has been designed by the great Rodney Matthews, who has created many of Magnum’s album covers over the years. The conceptual designer brings an element of fantasy to his designs, and he has created not just a an eye-catching design, but also a complementary representation of Magnum’s musical style. One for the collectors I’m sure.

The late great Tony Clarkin, will sadly be missed

Yes, I’ll admit I was much later to the Magnum party than a lot of their long time fans. Over 10 years ago I first heard a radio colleague play the truly magical signature track ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’, and fell in love with them. It's safe to say there is a fantastic back-catalogue of music for new fans to delve through, and one hell of a legacy left by Tony Clarkin. However, 2024’s ‘Here Comes The Rain’ will be considered as the last true Magnum album, and most likely the last ever studio recording. The album holds greater meaning because of Tony’s passing, he was their songwriter throughout their illustrious fifty plus year career, and he will be greatly missed. It goes without saying, their quality never faded, and this album is testimony.

Album: Here Comes The Rain

Released: 12th January 2024

Label: SPV / Steamhammer

Website: http://www.magnumonline.co.uk