Delusions of Adequacy 2003
Jennifer Joy
Swedish trio Grand Magus is back with their second release on Rise Above Records, the simply titled Monument. The band’s self-titled debut absolutely floored me, and as such I found its nine tracks to be at least two or three songs too short. Grand Magus’ sophomore effort is even briefer at only seven songs that round out at about 40 minutes of music. While I would generally argue that quality is more important than quality, I would prefer having both in this instance.
Much has changed for the group since it first hit the hard rock/metal scene a few years back. Singer/guitarist J.B. now does double duty and provides vocals for the Spiritual Beggars, which I believe has helped Grand Magus get a bit more exposure. The guys have also expanded their sound quite a bit - the 70s-style blues-rock is still present, but it is thickened by heavier rhythms and is liberally steeped in flat out metal.
All the elements that fans ate up the first time around still show themselves. J.B.’s voice is still one of the best (largely undiscovered) gems in the industry, and he writes great lyrics. Perhaps most important in my opinion is that J.B. can actually sing, as opposed to scream or drone on in monotone, and I could easily imagine his voice fitting perfectly with other styles of music. In a genre that is full of stagnancy and copycats, J.B.’s songwriting is light years ahead of the rest of the pack.
The sound on Monument fully lives up to the album title - it’s colossal and powerful while still being accessible to those who crave a little melody with their metal. Still a power trio in every sense, Grand Magus defies easy labeling with ease because of the number of influences drawn into the mix and molded into something entirely new. Despite the near EP size, Monument is packed with outstanding songs. This time around, the band has put more of a focus on the production while still maintaining a raw, live sound. They have also added more atmospheric layers to some of the tracks, like “Ulvaskull (vargr)” which opens with the sound of a wailing wind or the 10-minute plus epic “He Who Seeks Shall Find.”
Although Grand Magus has yet to tour the United States and is still a relatively young band, the trio has already proven they are innovative and passionate. If they can keep up the pace, it’s only a matter of time before they find a wider audience. I’m sure many hard-rock and metal fans have never even heard this band’s name before, but Grand Magus is definitely worth taking a chance on.
- Jennifer, 12/16/03
http://www.adequacy.net/reviews/g/grandmagus.shtml
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