11.POWER QUESTMAGIC NEVER DIESMelodic Power Metal / 80s-influenced Rock / AORreleased May 21st, 2005
via Majestic Rock
1. Ascension
(instrumental) [2:05]
2. Find My Heaven [4:14]
3. Galaxies Unknown [5:03]
4. Hold On To Love [5:02]
5. Diamond Sky [3:58]
6. The Message [6:15]
7. Soulfire [5:04]
8. Children of the Dream [6:10]
9. Strike Force [6:23]
10. Another World [7:44]
11. Magic Never Dies [6:13]
12. The Longest Night* [5:24]
*Japanese bonus trackMAGIC NEVER DIES is
Steve Williams (Keyboards / Backing vocals)
Alessio Garavello (Vocals)
Andrea Martongelli (Guitars / Backing vocals)
Steve Scott (Bass / Backing vocals)
Francesco Tresca (Drums)
WITHAnna Walker (Voice on 6)
Clive Nolan (Backing vocals / Keyboards on 12 / Orchestration on 1)
Magic Never Dies is… well, it’s a simple record, honestly. It has your blissful, optimistic power metal anthems for about half the record, and the rest is full of 80s-influenced keyboard driven AOR. And it all blends together beautifully, it’s neither too heavy nor too soft, it’s something of an evolution on the previous record, 2003’s Neverworld, and I think this is an extraordinary example of power metal in one of its tastiest forms.
I’m writing this one on the fly and I am utterly exhausted, so let’s keep it brief. Power metal anthems? You got ‘em. This album’s loaded with them: “Find My Heaven,” “Galaxies Unknown,” “Diamond Sky,” “Soulfire,” “Strike Force,” “Magic Never Dies” – every single one of those a power metal gem, full of catchy fast solos, stratospheric vocal melodies, huge choruses, fast drums, and cheerful lyricism. Speed + melody + synth magic = a very good time for me, these songs have all of that in spades.
“Hold On To Love” is a heavily 80s-influenced rocker with one of Power Quest’s best keyboard lines, which is also heavily inspired by Van Halen’s “Jump”. “The Message” is a slow ballad, the token brooding song of the album about being away from home and the toll it takes on relationships, good stuff but certainly not the strongest song for a power metal record. “Children of the Dream” straddles the border between the album’s power metal sound and the 80s rock sound of “Hold On To Love” and it’s also one of my favorite songs ever; if I were to pick a personal theme song, “Children of the Dream” would be a top contender, everything about it hits me in the feels.
“Another World” is a strange song in that it’s the longest song on the album but it’s not even metal; it’s just a rather standard, keyboard-laden, almost kind of barely prog-ish approach to power metal rock. Love the chorus, even if it takes a bit of time to get there. The title track, “Magic Never Dies,” is a great closer to the album proper, not overstaying its welcome, but making sure you know what the theme of the album is: hope, love, and a thirsty imagination.
“The Longest Night” features a stellar keyboard solo from the one and only Clive Nolan, and is widely considered one of Power Quest’s best songs, even as a bonus track. I love the start of this song, using an a capella version of the chorus to kick it off.
In Summary: A lot of people consider this to be Power Quest’s pinnacle, and I have to agree, although Neverworld is close. The sound of this record just speaks to me and has almost everything I could want in a keyboard-driven power metal record, and just about nothing I don’t want. This is way too cheesy for a lot of people, but if you think of this album as an hour-long blend of “Separate Ways” by Journey, “Jump” by Van Halen, and “The Final Countdown” by Europe… then it might be palatable! Give a couple songs a listen for yourself.
AND THEY’RE TRYING TO PLAY THE WHOLE THING AT PROGPOWER USA 2020!!! Totally new lineup other than the leader of the band, Steve Williams, BUT I DON’T CARE!!
Katt’s Favorites: Hold On To Love,
Diamond Sky,
Children of the Dream,
Strike Force,
Magic Never Dies,
The Longest Night, just listen to the whole record tbh
Listen to “Magic Never Dies” by Power Quest on Spotify