Metallus review by Ettore (Hector) Bezzi
Ettore (Hector) Bezzi
Grand Magus
Grand Magus
Rise Above Records / Self
The history of Grand Magus start in Stocholm, Sweeden, in the 1996, when two threes of the band played in a local band called Smack. After the drummer left the band Janne (guitar/voice) and Foxen (bass/backing vocals) decided to call another drummer (Trisse) with the goal to set up a new band to enter the road of strong and groovy sounds stepped before when Janne and Foxen were playing together for jamming. After few jamming sessions e a couple of live shows, they decided that Trisse was the man they were looking for, but they were sure to change also the name’s band, because Smack was no more suitable to the new music style and lyric themes. So here is the Grand Magus! They collaborated also with Spiritual Beggars in a single called “Twilight Train”, Southern Lord released, and they sold a thousand copies in a very little time! In the beginning of 2001 Grand Magus captured the attention of Mr. Lee Dorrian, Cathedral and Rise Above Records leader that, for those who don’t know it, he produced people like Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, sHeavy, Goatsnake, only to mention someone of them…the music genre played by Grand Magus could be identified in the stoner doom, but in their songs we can hear the influence of blues, above all in the less raged songs, “Generator”is a good example of it and a particular note to the voice of Janne that demostrate a great control of tonalities e a very cool bluesy style, but used in a more aggressive way especially in the high tunes, in which he can transport the low frequencies at high tonalities in total control and giving a high power to the song! One of the many Grand Magus qualities is the sound, the capacity to create absolutely groovy and forcefeeding riffs, here is the GROOVE, and we can here it!! Their rhythmics remember very close the “sacred monsters” of the seventies rock, legends like Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mountain and Deep Purple. It’s an album that make your booty move and bang your head during the listening, it go on very well without boring, never! Other good examples of the first Grand Magus studio release are “Legion”, characterized by a load-bearing riff very cool and “Black Hole, in which prevail blues and stoner atmosphere at the same time, quick solos to separate the lyrics. And also here Janne can demonstrate to have vocal power not so standard. In the closing track, “Mountain Of Power”, the first characteristic is the power, distorting cadencing sounds but accurate with an extremely tripping and involving melody and riffs! Surely, this is not an album for the neophytes to this kind of sonorities, it’s doom and stoner, it’s very particular kind, but, to me, who appreciated Spiritual Beggars albums like “Mantra III” or “Per Aspera Ad Astra”, will be satisfied of Grand Magus, no…better…he will be fascinated! From the words of Janne, Grand Magus are “the combination of Fire and Magick, the celebration for the Sun and the Earth”. So, finally, a magic album fixed on the theme of relationship between man and nature and the surrounding mysteries. Great work for Janne & Co. and, how’s been so many other times, compliments and thanks to Mister Lee Dorrian that, always discovering these talents of doom, gives us the possibility to listen to a very good music!
Vote: 8
Tracklist: Gauntlet / Legion / Never Learned / Black Hound Of Vengeange / Coat Of Arms / Generator / Wheel Of Time / Lodbrok / Black Hole / Mountain Of Power
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