The iconic British Rock band Magnum have announced 15th Anniversary reissues of the albums ‘The Visitation‘ and ‘Evolution’ on gold 2LP vinyl and CD, to be released on December 4^th via Music Theories Recordings / Artone Label Group. You can pre-order both here.
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The band formed in Birmingham in 1972 by vocalist Bob Catley and guitarist, songwriter and producer Tony Clarkin. Known for their distinctive melodies, atmospheric arrangements, and Catley’s unmistakable vocals, the band built a career spanning more than five decades, during which they released 23 studio albums and 11 live albums.
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The releases cover the period of the band that featured Bob Catley (vocals), Mark Stanway (Keyboards), Al Barrow (Bass), Harry James (Drums), and Tony Clarkin (Guitar), who sadly passed away in 2024.
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‘The Visitation‘ was originally released in January 2011 and was the band’s 16th studio album, with its distinctive artwork painted by longtime collaborator and conceptual fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Following its release, the band took the new songs on a large European tour, visiting Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK.
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In November that year, ‘Evolution’ followed and was a compilation featuring songs from their post-2001 reunion period across the albums ‘Breath of Life‘, ‘Brand New Morning‘, ‘Princess Alice and the ‘Broken Arrow‘, ‘Into the Valley of the Moonking‘ and ‘The Visitation‘; all were at the time re-recorded, remixed and remastered, along with two new recordings from the album. It went on to reach the Top 40 UK Independent album charts.
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In support of ‘Evolution’, the band hit the road in the UK to end the year with a short run of shows, which included playing the festival Hard Rock Hell V in Prestatyn, North Wales, in which they headlined the Main Stage; Therapy?, Ginger Wildheart and Wolfsbane were also on the bill. Several songs from these two records made it into the band’s triumphant set that night.
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2011 was a strong year for the beloved band, and these two albums reflect the power and creativity surging through them.

Evolution

1. That Holy Touch
2. Just Like January
3. Brand New Morning
4. Immigrant Son
5. When We Were Younger
6. Out of the Shadows
7. All My Bridges
8. Blood on Your Barbed Wired Thorns
9. The Visitation
10. Wild Angels
11. The Fall
12. Do You Know Who You Are?

The Visitation

1. Black Skies
2. Doors to Nowhere
3. The Visitation
4. Wild Angels
5. Spin Like a Wheel
6. The Last Frontier
7. Freedom Day
8. Mother Nature’s Final Dance
9. Midnight Kings
10. Tonight’s the Night

Web Links:

Official Website

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