Grand Magus

[Clint]

Just got this cd from a band called Grand Magus - its a killer from start to finish. Huge riffs, real old style sound - sorta like a slightly simpler but heavier Spiritual Beggars. Its just been released thru Rise Above, and I cant recommend it highly enough - check it outtttttttttt.

[Father_Doom]

Hey Clint (or anyone)!

I've got their "Demo 2000," and to me it has that southern rock thing going - you know, ATP, Halfway to Gone, that kind of thing.

Rumor has it that GM are heading in a more doomy direction.  Any comments?

[Father_Doom]

Well, I'll just find out for myself then!  Here's a review.......



Band: Grand Magus
Album: Grand Magus
Format: CD
Label: Rise Above UK
Year: 2001
Time: Approximately 47 minutes
Track list:

Gauntlet
Legion
Never learned
Black hound of vengeance
Coat of arms
Generator
Wheel of time
Lodbrok
Black hole
Mountain of power

Amazon.com link: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005Q3ZA/qid=1009381766/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1_1/103-9370380-0921425

Cover link and band site:
www.grandmagus.com/default.asp

Those lucky few that have heard Grand Magus are raving about it.  Evidently this includes noted doomster Lee Dorrian, who signed them up to his Rise Above label in the UK in early 2001.  As the years have proven, Lee has an ear for quality, from the now-obscure Mourn to the better-known Electric Wizard.  Produced by Fred Estby (Entombed, Hellacopters) in Stockholm, Grand Magus has indeed constructed a formidable “Mountain of Power.”  But is it doom?

Well, yes and no.  To die-hard fans of funeral doom such as Thergothon or Evoken, the answer is no.  To fans of the afore-mentioned Rise Above artists, or lovers of the Maryland old school, the answer is a little trickier.  To these ears, Grand Magus is first a hard slammin’ heavy blues band, with the emphasis on heavy.  Songs such as ‘Legion’ boogie along in a hard blues groove, reminiscent of such bands as Sweden’s Halfman. Other tunes show a strong ZZ Top flavor mixed in with the classic sounds of 70s heavies such as Mountain and Deep Purple.  And do I hear a little Zakk Wylde influence here and there?  Hmmm, maybe….  Doomsters will be happiest with songs such as ‘Wheel of Time,’ which transposes an old-school doom guitar sound on a slow blues stomp, and ‘Lodbrok’ which is doomy hardrock with lyrics about axes and swords.

The class of musicianship on ‘Grand Magus’ is second to none.  Vocalist Janne has a convincingly strong blues growl, and his fingers dance over the frets on his too-infrequent guitar solos.  Bassist Foxy and Trisse on drums are rock-solid and heavy as hell-this is a recording you feel in your back molars.  The word is that Janne is moonlighting as the singer in Spiritual Beggars for the now-departed Spice, which he is suited for in both appearance and style. If you’re into the Beggars, or classic doom or heavy blues, you will find your attention well repaid by scoring a copy of ‘Grand Magus.’<br>

[Blackadder]

strange, that you praise this album so lavishly. ok, tastes differ, but apart from really heavy fuzzy sound and better than average vocals, there's nothing to hang onto. i can't spot a single catchy tune, apart, maybe, from the the 5th track. the music is very ordinary and nothing special as far as the melody aspect of the album is concerned. though it makes a nice background listening and let you calm a little bit down your hunger for some stoner stuff (if you have it, i have:). though my opinion is simply due to high expectations i had after having learned about their s/t becoming the album of the month in the january issue of german Metal Hammer. Too much hope all for nothing. May be if I treat is as a normal realise it'll grow on me... still i think, speaking about new bands, Lowrider and Blind Dog produce better songwriting than these guys.
though... i don't know... i'm listening it for the third time now (Grand Magus, I mean) and i think i might starting to like - the 3rd is a nice tune.... ok, here i stop..

[Father_Doom]

Keep listening Blackadder....it sounds like its growing on you already ;D