TEST OF WILLS

In 1995 and 1996 - between the release of their second album Impending Ascension and this, their third album Test Of Wills - Magellan was involved in the creation of a series of tribute albums to major classic progressive Rock bands. One of these was a tribute to Jethro Tull, and the Gardner brothers contribution to that album seems to have had a powerful influence on Magellan's own music on Test Of Wills. Several songs on this album, perhaps most notably Walk Fast, Look Worried and Jacko, have taken on a distinct Ian Anderson flavour in the song-writing and vocal style, and flute is even added to the palette of Magellan. Preaching The Converted is however in the style of (Magellan's version of) Genesis' Mama.

Another notable change in the band's sound for this album is the addition of real drums, here played by Brad Kaiser. Also, this album is much heavier than previous albums and more guitar oriented and overall less keyboard dominated. While adding real drums is clearly a step forward for the band, it is not matched by the quality of the material. The songs on Test Of Wills are less memorable than those of both the previous two albums and the subsequent one. Maybe they were saving up their best material for the excellent Explorer's Club album Age Of Impact which was released the following year?

Test Of Wills has its moments, but Magellan did better elsewhere. It is an acceptable album, but without doubt my least favourite of Magellan's four albums on the Magna Carta label. My favourites being 2002's Hundred Year Flood and the 1991 debut Hour Of Restoration, both of which have stronger material than what can be found on Test Of Wills.

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