METAMORPHOSIS

Magenta is an UK formation that doesn't sound original but their melodic 24-carat symphonic rock is presented very pleasantly and professionally. In 2001 they released a double debut CD entitled Revolutions, seven years later Magenta has made their fourth studio album Metamorphosis. Again the influences are very obvious, especially the Seventies Yes sound featuring guitar in the vein of Steve Howe and bass work with strong hints from Chris Squire.

The new album contains four tracks, two have a running time of more than 20 minutes and the other two alternate between 3 and 7 minutes. To me those long compositions sound more as a jam with lots of interesting ideas than an elaborate song with head-and-tail: a wonderful part with Grand piano and vocals, bombastic keyboards with heavy guitar riffs, exciting solos on guitar and keyboards and howling guitar and lush synthesizers in The Ballad Of Samuel Layne and a cascade of shifting moods with fiery wah-wah guitar, Floydian inspired guitarwork with Hammond organ support and great interplay between guitar and keyboards in the titletrack. Remarkably is the blend of the Uilleann pipes (bagpipe sound), this gives a very tasteful folky flavor to the music. The two shorter songs are more structured: a strong build-up with beautiful vocals and varied keyboard work and Uilleann pipes in Prekestolen (3.43) and a climate that shifts between mellow and fiery (also featuring soaring keyboards and the sound of a steel-guitar) with a compelling final part delivering lush keyboards in Blind Faith (6.01).

You know what to expect from Magenta, if you like melodic symphonic rock and you don't have a problem with a derivative sound, I am sure the new album CD will please you! My rating: 3,5 stars.

Share this MAGENTA review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to erik neuteboom
• Report this review (#172338)
• Buy MAGENTA music online with PA partners
• Show all MAGENTA MP3/Stream
• Go to MAGENTA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Metamorphosis page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for MAGENTA related discussions