DECODING THE SOUL
For anyone who is familiar with the progressive rock/metal scene, this band may be the sleeping giant of the year.
Not since DREAM THEATER have I heard a band capable of not only sheer mastery of their individual instruments, but
possess the ability and T-A-L-E-N-T to write terrific songs that are not only catchy and accessible, but showcase
just how powerful this band can be.
Hailing from the Midwest and other parts of this great land, MAGNITUDE NINE was formed by monster guitarist
Rob Johnson (who also released three of the best solo/shred guitar discs EVER - check them out at
Guitar9.com)
in the late nineties and received wide critical acclaim both domestically and overseas in Asia and Europe with the
release of
Chaos To Control and
Reality in Focus.Now after
a 3 year gap, Magnitude Nine returns with 'Decoding the Soul' and without a doubt a top contender for prog/metal
album of the year. The disc opens with the stunning 'New Dimension', a track that not only captures Johnson's highly
evolved playing and writing skills, but contains one hell of hook. Lead vocalist Corey Brown possess a tremendous set
of pipes that fall somewhere between Bruce Dickenson of IRON MAIDEN, James Labrie of Dream Theater and Tony Harnell of TNT while retaining an individuality all his own. He commands center stage and never once overstates, or grandstands
his abilities, simply put - this guy is a Class A vocalist and one of the best I've heard in years. Continuing on with
'Walk Through The Fire' and 'To Find A Reason', the band simply lock onto a terrific formula of composing songs that
avoid the typical prog/metal clichés or instrumental grandstanding that often plague many bands of this ilk. But the standout track on the disc, and by far the catchiest has to be 'Lies Within The Truth'. With the proper promotion, and
radio airplay, this could be the new 'Pull Me Under' for the 2000's. The song is simply perfect from start to finish, with
extremely well written melodies, and terrific hook and a chorus that will leave you humming long after it's over.
The disc contains other standout tracks 'Facing The Unknown', 'Thirty Days of Night' and the album closer 'Changes',
which ends this disc on a high note without a doubt. Each track is really well written and thought out (but doesn't SOUND
thought out - if you get my meaning) with strong attention to detail as to how each instrument complements one another.
The production on this disc, provided by monster vocalist Mike Vescera (Yngwie Malmsteen, MVP), I must say is stellar,
with the mix being extremely crisp and well defined, allowing for each instrument and layer to stand out without getting
muddy or lost.
So you ask, what makes Magnitude Nine so good? SONGS. Bar-none, the songwriting, arrangements, and dynamics
throughout this disc are superb. Drummer John Homan, bassist Ian Ringler, and keyboardist Joseph Anastacio Gleen
are all master musicians who provide a top-notch foundation for Johnson's guitar work and Brown's soaring melodies.
This band is simply amazing from top to bottom and I strongly urge you to find their discs, BUY them (don't download it; Good luck finding it anywhere online, for that matter) and be thankful that such music is still being made today. There is hope indeed.
