Like the fabulous Edguy, Power Quest keenly bridges modern European power metal and Eighties-era American rock. In fact, the British band's delicate balance of brute force and fancy melody has been one the traits that's always positioned Power Quest a sword or two above the power-metal fray - despite numerous personnel changes. Magic Never Dies, the band's third album, will not alter that status. In fact, I'd argue that Power Quest still sounds as fresh today as it did the first time I heard the band back in 2002.
Much of the reason for that is band founder and keyboardist Steve Williams. His composition skills and sense of professionalism can be heard throughout Magic Never Dies. And not only did he once again recruit Threshold's Karl Groom and Richard West as producers, helping make Power Quest's sonics soar, but he's also consistently found players whose ambition and proficiency match his own.
Put quite simply, this band makes some of the planet's most accessible and catchiest power metal. Plus, not every song is about sorcery and kingdoms; Power Quest even dares to (gasp) sing about love. New drummer Francesco Tresca doesn't get too carried away with his double-bass drum kit, and singer Alessio Garavello seems to have a stronger grasp on his vocal range now than he did on 2004's NeverWorld. Overall, the playing sounds more accomplished, especially on the scorcher "Galaxies Unknown" and the power ballads "Hold On to Love" and "The Message." The only concern is that a few of the tracks near the end of Magic Never Dies seem slightly more derivative of the genre than older songs such as "Far Away" from the Wings of Forever debut and NeverWorld's title track and "Lost Without You"). Nevertheless, Power Quest continues its noble quest to - like Edguy, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and a handful of other truly relevant power-metal bands - crush clichés and expand the genre's audience.
Track Listing:
1) Ascension (Intro)
2) Find My Heaven
3) Galaxies Unknown
4) Hold On to Love
5) Diamond Sky
6) The Message
7) Soulfire
8) Children of the Dream
9) Another World
10) Strike Force
11) Magic Never Dies
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