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Serious Black: Magic

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

5.0/5.0

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AFM Records
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 16.08.2017

Serious Black, the European power metal super group, is on a roll. Returning with a stable line up, they offer Magic their third album in the same number of years. Moreover, Magic is a concept album with a story to tell about "Mr Nightmist, a figure, through generations, shrouded in mystery and legend." For more details to the story, and also each song, Serious Black offers a Listener's Companion (PDF) to Magic, written by vocalist Urban breed.

Serious Black

Musically, Serious Black tells the story in their traditional European melodic power metal fashion. In this context, there's no surprises here. Serious Black sounds like Serious Black. In other words, the band follows that familiar recipe: twin guitar harmony, an abundance of fiery guitar solos, a groove-laden and speedy rhythm section, a dash of keyboards and, clean melodic vocals. Toss in a mixture of tempos and some true rock groove and the Serious Black formula is finally defined. In this sense, Serious Black remains constant and consistent. Moreover, the music and story is told efficiently in songs averaging about four minutes each.

As for the songs, excepting one song, they are mostly straight up melodic power metal with an abundance of rock groove. They crank up quickly and get going, yet still offer an abundance of tempo changes. Alternatively, the song Skeletons On Parade has a lighter and brief acoustic guitar start before putting the pedal down. Mr Nightmist does something similar, only starting with light piano-like synths. One of the best songs, I Can Do Magic, starts with a crisp and melodic twin guitar harmony, then delivers a true rock groove, and hooks you with a fine catchy chorus. The aforementioned proverbial odd song out is the closing number One Final Song, a delightful piano driven symphonic anthem which builds to an epic crescendo.

It's enough to conclude, with Magic, Serious Black delivers another compelling and entertaining album of melodic power metal which will please their fans and those who love the genre. Easily recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Magic, Serious Black delivers another compelling and entertaining album of melodic power metal which will please their fans and those who love the genre. Easily recommended.

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Three decades on and still going strong is the iconic progressive rock band, The Flower Kings, founded by veteran multi-instrumentalist and composer Roine Stolt. Since 1994, The Flower Kings have been known ... [ Read More ]