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Mandrakeroot View Drop Down
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Italian Prog Specialist

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2008 at 04:55
My last (related) Heavy Prog review is this:
 
4 stars Interesting promo compilation by Eagle Rock Entertainment and Eurotrend. Based on Purple members (and DP live) Eagle Rock catalogue this CD is very good. But... Is this CD a Prog CD? Not in all songs.

The Prog songs are: 'Smoke On The Water' for the presence of the LSO, 'No More Cane On The Brazo's' because is a traditional with new arrangement (also if it is poor for Prog), 'Wring That Neck' with a new big band Jazz arrangement and 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra (Movement III)' and except for Ian Gillan song all from the new version of 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra'. Another good songs are 'Love Is All' with Dio and the Proto AOR/ Hard Rock by Gillan 'Gut Reaction', a song that I love because also if it is Rock is a song where Gillan can still move.

Certainly there are other similar compilation consisting of 2 CD. But I must say that include on these compilation Dio's songs (for example) lowers the value of the same compilation. In this case all the songs are attributable to the Purple or solo projects of various members. And the result is very compact and honest.

In fact, although not always to be traced back to Deep Purple's matrix (see for example: 'Telephone Box', 'Love Is All' or 'The Purple People Eater') we can see that 'Gut Reaction' of Gillan is very close to what the Purple recorded in the 90's.

I have always believed that the Prog soul of Purple was Jon Lord. True. But Ian Gillan in this sense not joking. 'No More Cane On The Brazo's' is, in a certain sense, an example of Folk Prog, also if this song is 100% POP. Vice versa is good the Jazz quotient of Roger Glover (and Steve Morse). All is notable in this compilation. That for these facts is good. In fact this promo compilation can understand very well the various souls of Purple.

In conclusion I think that this compilation is good not only for Purple fans but also for all persons who want to deepen their knowledge of Purple from the perspective of the various members. Of course that is a demanding Progster will be satisfied.

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Mandrakeroot View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member

Italian Prog Specialist

Joined: March 01 2006
Location: San Foca, Friûl
Status: Offline
Points: 5851
Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 04 2008 at 10:56
A big surprise for me and for you (also if this is a related HP review):
 
 
Magnum - A Winters Tale CD (album) cover

A Winter's Tale

by MAGNUM (Prog Related)

5 stars I have often had discussions with my friends about Magnum and their music. To my Metallers friends Magnum is a group of Prog, AOR or at most, given that are much (too much for some my friends) melodic. To my Progsters friends Magnum are Heavy Metal, AOR or better (or at most, because their music is too hard) Class Metal (although not able to say exactly what it is... They put in Class Metal also Uriah Heep for the 80's production!). If I go to ask the part totally Prog Metal of my friends that they meet me that Savatage, Angra, Dream Theater are Prog Metal and that Rush are the inventors of Prog Metal. But admit that not familiar with Magnum and then meet in historical terms. Beyond all this my idea is this: Magnum are one of the first MWOBHM bands. But their music have too big roots in Classic Prog and because this fact Magnum plays a perfect fusion between 70's Hard Rock/ Heavy Rock and Classic Prog! In my opinion it is true this sentence: Magnum are the Prog band of NWOBHM! But if I say to all my friends tell me that can not exist in NWOBHM a Prog band. Almost NWOBHM describes a genre and not a movement! I consider, for not mistaken, Magnum the inventors of Class Metal and, for the avoidance of doubt, a full Prog band!

This DVD is recorded in December 22nd, 1992 in Birmingham Town Hall. Magnum played in house!

In my humble opinion the beginning is a little weak, since 'All England's Eyes' is a song that I find quite annoying. Also 'Vigilante' not impressed me: I expected a more aggressive version. Instead what I appreciated from the first minute is the quality of shots. The director uses the cameras really well, managing to capture the emotions that the musicians forward. Also because although Bob Catley is not a stage animal has a truly impressive stage presence. Also the peeled Tony Clarkin not disappoint. But the song that struck me most was 'Kingdom Of Madness' here becomes very epic. I must say that Magnum is one of the groups on stage are among the best that I have observed (in this case only on this DVD, unfortunately) and award-winning company Clarkin / Catley always work in perfect manner. Even the idea of including a Christmas section in concert with a Father Christmas is great. For me it was a big beautiful surprise. I would not say that the location (a good theater) has helped to found successful... Or that on the Christmas atmosphere... But the thing is really nice!

In conclusion I noted that this DVD is very good, perhaps extreme good. Magnum are a good Prog act, not Heavy Prog but sure in Heavy Prog tradition. It is true: Magnum invented the Class Metal. But in my opinion remaining in the wake of Prog tradition. So this DVD please me in extreme manner. And I am sure that this DVD please you too much.

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