When Magnum released 2018s Lost on the Road to Eternity, keyboardist Rick Benton replaced Mark Stanway, whod quit (for the third time) in the middle of a tour. The albums razor-edged, riff-laden hard rock sound contrasted with the plodding bombast and balladry of 2016s Sacred Blood Divine Lies that, frankly, sounded tired. Longtime drummer Harry James left in 2017 and was replaced by Lee Morris. The resulting tour was wonderfully documented on 2018s surprising On the Road to Eternity live outing. Finally, in June of 2019, Al Barrow, the bands bassist since 2001, stopped touring with the group. American Dennis Ward claimed the spot just before Magnum entered the studio to record The Serpent Rings. Founding members guitarist Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley are the only remnants from the 20th century. As evidenced on their 21st studio album, the personnel changes stoked the fire in the bellies of these two mainstays. Where Are You Eden opens with urgent chamber strings and Morris snares and tom-toms before Ward charges in with sweeping organ and synth chords and Clarkin delivers a crunchy, melodic riff. When Catley begins to sing, its as if the decades slip away. This is a fist-pumping anthem. The proceeding You Cant Run Faster Than Bullets highlights the promise of the opener, led by Bentons meaty keyboard groove. Madman or Messiah makes it three burners in a row. Commencing with a keyboard vamp behind Catleys strong, melodic singing, its propelled with crunch and verve by Clarkins layered power riffs. The hook in the harmonic chorus is worthy of a singalong in the bridge, and its exquisitely crafted. There are no weak cuts here, though the album possesses a very consistent tempo and intensity level. The raucous Not Forgiven contains a riff worthy of early AC/DC, but the expansive keys and tight orchestration gird that open, ringing guitar vamp and cascading grand piano. They push Catley to the edge; the track is designed to get concert audiences on their feet. House of Kings contains a startling brass section and a ringing grand piano that contrasts sharply with Catleys growling, balls-to-the-wall vocal and Clarkins overdriven guitars. It also features a jazzy bridge where the horns and Bentons inventive pianism are embossed by Morris (literally) swinging drums. The final two tracks, The Last One on Earth and Crimson on the White Sand, are power ballads that fill out the albums dynamic portrait. The latter is especially ferocious, with Clarkins razor-wire guitar fills alongside layered chamber strings and majestic, earthshaking drums. The Serpent Rings is arguably the most vital-sounding, musically consistent album by Magnum since the 80s. Clarkin and Catley have been working together since 1972. Nearly 50 years later, they sound vital, hungry, and, alongside their new bandmates, prove that Magnum has plenty of gas left in the tank. ~ Thom Jurek

Rovi