Magnum‘s Live at KK’s Steel Mill isn’t just another live album; it’s a testament, a farewell, and an enduring legacy to the spirit of the late Tony Clarkin and the band’s kinship with their fans. Recorded at their final show on December 10, 2022, this album captures the very essence of what Magnum has always been about – melodic hard rock with a heart, soul and a brain.
The night kicks off with Days of No Trust, ushering in the crowd with Rick Benton‘s clarion parp – it’s the perfect intro to a night of Magnum magic. It’s an anthem that makes you throw your arms around the person next to you, whether you know them or not, and bellow your heart out. Clarkin chugs away on his side of the stage, the guitar weaving tales of celebration, while Bob Catley gives every ounce of his being, inviting us all to join him on this journey to come.
From there, the flame is carried on with Lost On The Road To Eternity, a song that drips with emotion from Catley’s seventy-five-year-old vocal cords, delivering one of the band’s latter-day classics with a gut-punch of nostalgia and beauty. The darker, introspective tones of The Monster Roars follow, where Clarkin’s guitar work is at its finest, with a solo that’s all heart and no flash, reminding us of the band’s ability to weave new tracks seamlessly into their storied tapestry.
Then comes The Archway of Tears, a highlight from The Serpent Rings that sounds absolutely marvellous in this live setting. It’s here that both Clarkin and Catley hit their stride, delivering what can only be described as a hard rock masterpiece, stripping away the years with every note.
The set takes a heavier turn with Dance of The Black Tattoo, a song Catley has always claimed as one of their few true ‘heavy metal’ tracks. The performance is full of drama and bombast, a real show-stopper that has the crowd roaring. We’re then whisked away by Where Are You Eden?, its staccato riffage echoing the spirit of Kingdom of Madness, while Benton’s keys conjure images of James Bond. Lee Morris and Dennis Ward provides a thunderous backdrop toiling away in the engine room, stirring KK’s into a dance of unalloyed joy as we realise we haven’t even touched the classics yet… The unexpected inclusion (to me, anyway) of The Flood from 1992’s Sleepwalking is a pleasant surprise, sparking this forgotten gem to life with Clarkin’s metallic riffage, Morris’s high energy percussive assault, and Catley’s astonishing vocal performance; This is classic Magnum in every respect and it’s nice to be reminded of the fact that Tracks like this can be dug out, dusted down and delivered with such reverence and grace.
Moving on, The Day After The Night Before serves as a reminder that this wasn’t just a greatest hits parade but a celebration of The Monster Roars. It holds its own but lives in the shadow of its surroundings.
The emotional core of the night commences with Wild Swan; One of the quintessential live Magnum anthems. You’ve heard it a thousand times yet the tears still well up, prodded by the pure emotion in Bob Catley’s vocal. It’s one of those songs that reminds you – like you needed reminding – why you love this band so much. Amazing. Les Morts Dansant follows, an act of pure majesty, the crowd’s reaction at the end speaking volumes of the song’s impact. It’s not simply one of Clarkin’s best – it’s one of the best songs ever written.
Rocking Chair is up next and the band offers a fresh perspective here; Always more vibrant live than on vinyl, tonight, given the circumstances, the song just makes sense, showcasing the band’s improbably youthful energy despite their age. The communal spirit soars with All England’s Eyes; Another of the all-time great Magnum live anthems, the perfect ‘let me see your hands’ vehicle for Catley to draw us all together; delivered here with a sparkling solidity that long term fans will immediately recognise as the band firing on all cylinders plus a couple more, it’s worth the admission fee on any live Magnum night, and it’s delivered splendidly here. Vigilante, as ever, sends drama levels spiralling into the red via it’s agelessly bombastic intro; Dramatic Clarkin storytelling in excelsis, this track quite literally will never be wearied by age. Tony Clarkin may no longer be with us, but his spirit will always live on whilst we have songs like Vigilante in our hearts and on our lips. What a way to finish the set proper, leaving the audience high on excitement, yet still with the promise of more to come…
Kingdom Of Madness opens the encores and prompts a flood of personal memories (and a few tears, if I’m honest) as I realise this was the last time Clarkin played that iconic riff; It’s a moment of peerless nostalgia, The song that first alerted me to the magic of Magnum all those years ago. Whatever Magnum have done over the years, it’s always been – for me – anchored by, and compared to, this track. And here it is delivered with bite and verve as I desperately hoped it would be.
On A Storyteller’s Night challenges Catley’s vocal prowess – You’re on a hiding to nothing, as a vocalist in your seventies, tackling a much-loved fan fave like this as a second encore but he rises to the occasion, proving age is just a number when you’re a legend like him, and with the crowd behind him he brings the track home in fine style, leaving the night to be brought to an end, of course, with Sacred Hour. Obviously no longer the vehicle for departed keysman Mark Stanway, Sacred Hour here is delivered as a hard-hitting, leave-em-wanting more bruiser that leaves nothing on the stage. One of Clarkin’s enduring classics that has been a set staple for over forty years, it’s simply the most fitting track of all with which to bring the curtain down on Magnum’s recorded story.
Live at KK’s Steel Mill, then is not just another Magnum live album; it’s an emotional journey through the heart and soul of the band and it’s guiding lights, Clarkin and Catley. The performances are stellar, the songs timeless, and the atmosphere captured is one of unity, love, and a poignant goodbye to a legendary figure in rock. This should be in every fan’s collection, not just as a memento of what was, but as a celebration of what will always be. A fitting tribute to Tony Clarkin and a reminder of why Magnum has always held a special place in the annals of rock history.
Live At KK’s Steel Mill is out now.
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