Band: Magnus
Title: Acceptance Of Death
Label: Witching Hour Prod.
Distribution: Sure Shot Worx
Release date: September 30th 2010
Review: CD

There are several bands called ‘magnus’, but one of the oldest ones must be Polish Magnus. Formed at the late eighties, the band released a couple of demos during the early years, and three full lengths, I Was Watching My Death (Blackend Records) (Polish label Carnage Records releases an album called The Gods Of The Crime, named after the 1991-demo, with songs from the same recording sessions as the official album – it), Scarlet Slaughterer (in fact, this album was recorded in 1989-1990, yet it wasn’t released officially until 1992 by Digiton – it), and Alcoholic Suicide (Metal Mind Productions, 1994; at the same time, this label re-releases I Was Watching My Death too – it).
In spite of their popularity, especially in their home country yet also outside (the band was very popular back then in Russia, for example – it), and after having hit the road with bands as Samael, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse or Gorefest, to name but a few, the band’s activity were put on hold after ten years of thrashing madness, in 1997. Reason? Who cares?
Highlight of this history: Magnus did return… After thirteen years, Magnus signs a two-album deal, the band starts playing live again, and they did enter the Tower Studio last year to record a new, self-produced album. Joy!
Joy? Maybe. Maybe not, because the sound is just terrible. Some instruments, like the electric and bass guitars, sound as if they’ve been recorded on a tape from 1990, on top of some rehearsal recording. And those drums, played well, yet recorded in a basement?
Musically, however, this indeed is joyful stuff. What strikes me the most is the same feeling ‘from back then’. If someone would tell me this material was originally written and recorded in, for example, 1992, I would believe it (and yes, that sound certainly influences my opinion too, I guess). Acceptance Of Death brings a mainly fast to ultra-fast form of Thrash Metal with clear hints of technical old school Death Metal and spikes ‘n leather Black Metal. Some might find it too passé, but you cannot ignore the conviction and, especially, the energy behind each track. And a few times, Magnus go really over-the-top – listen for example to the schizophrenic Noise-assault They’ll Bury…
Mixed and mastered at Fonoplastykon with Marcin Bors (Esqarial); duration: 38:16 minutes.

(only) 80 (because of the sound)/100

Ivan Tibos.