SERIOUS BLACK - "MAGIC" (2017)

SERIOUS BLACK - "MAGIC"
(Running time: 60:28 minutes; 14 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes, maybe more or less as usual, because today now comes a very early post up here for you by/from me. I still have plenty of record reviews to do on 2017 releases and at least I'm still planning and aiming at getting they all still done this year and, oh-oh, best 'them all' still right before christmas, yes... now just let us wait and see if this will work out like planned'n'aimed..., and anyhow that's the or a reason why this one here is now coming up that early today. Yesterday I was to over-done'n'out when I was finally back home at yesterday's evening and today I have not a single clou if I would or will be able to get a post done later the day and to not loose the 'swing' again already so soon now you get an early morning post right before breakfast and before I have to leave to go to work. And what better way to start this day then with a good dose of Heavy Metal, righty right, and so now here we go one more time again, yes, and here's my review on the 2017 full length record release of/by SERIOUS BLACK (en)titled "MAGIC" released by the end of August 2017 via the (I guess) german record label "AFM RECORDS" on CD as well as on LP and this in several different editions, of course, and here I have the 'normal' CD version containing 14 songs in sort of pretty much a full hour of running time. SERIOUS BLACK are sort of a 'german Heavy Metal allstar group' that released sort of two to three years ago their debut record "AS DAYLIGHT BREAKS" and here now with "MAGIC" we get already their third full length studio record output of/by them, yes, and it is anyhow the first of/by them that I finally know with their two earlier releases had been and still being so far unknown to me. Anyway, that's here and now after all not that much important and now 'getting closer' to SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". This is pretty strong and honestly damn good powerful as well as especially (very) melodic Heavy Metal or Melodic Power Metal with a clearly strong german touch with strong melody lines as well as really hymnal verse and especially refrain arrangements that, from my point of view, show clear (for example) HELLOWEEN impressions and influences as well as modern german Power Metal bands like ORDEN OGAN are also not that much far away. This is wide'n'broad'n'loud Melodic Power Metal delivered by skilled musicians that also know how to write and compose, arrange (mostly) grapping, exciting, and interesting songs with a strong rousing and anthemic spirit and identity to it all, and all filled with sharp cutting and heavy hitting, very dynmaic and highly energetic guitars that shine with a strong rhythm and pace work and delivering strong and marking riffing as well as with a really huge melodical lead and harmony work and also offering a big bunch of very strong solos and coming with a nice own toning all along the way; then there's a very present keyboard that gives and delivers very cool playings and also pretty often cool solos as well and also the solo-battles between the guitars and the keyboard are pretty often pretty to damn cool'n'good stuff, yes, even anyhow for my personal taste the keyboard is often by far too present and marking in and for the songs and music of SERIOUS BLACK (on "MAGIC"); next are the very charming powerful as well as first-and-foremost clear and melodic, very skilled sung lead vocals that are also often nicely backed up band chantings or doubled vocal lines and that also own a very nice and also very good own tone and identity; final part then is the very precise and to the point played, heavy and yet very playful rhythm section that's delivering the needed beefy punch to make this all still a Heavy Metal record 'despise' all the very catchy and melodical to open 'poppy' stuff that's going on here on SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". The songwriting is, like already mentioned above, pretty strong and all the songs own a pretty intense atmosphere over all the time. Even it is all sometimes and in some parts for me by far too much 'pop-candy' and for example the keyboard is too present and a too much marking element to really conquer me all the way all the time "MAGIC" is anyhow a damn good album and SERIOUS BLACK really are a damn strong band that you should have on your list if you are into modern melodical Metal and also a lot of the songs shine with a strong Hard Rock note so that also fans of melodic and metallic (modern) Hard Rock should definitely give it a good and fair try. The lyrical concept is also pretty interesting (and nerdy), the artwork is a pure beauty, and the bombastic production sound is a perfect match, yes, rounding it all finally up. My personal favorites are "BURN, WITCHES BURN!", "LONE GUNMAN RULE", "NOW YOU'LL NEVER KNOW", "I CAN DO MAGIC" , "SERIOUS BLACK MAGIC", "SKELETONS ON PARADE", "MR. NIGHTMIST", and "THE WITCH OF CALDWELL TOWN", yes, and so maybe start with this ones because (at least in my book) this are clearly the strongest songs on SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". A really damn strong album that I can calmly and clearly recommend to you, yes, if you are into the described music. Yes, and then that's it and now it's time for breakfast and then I'm up'n'away to work. Soon more, have a great day.

(8 of 10 points)

http://www.serious-black.com/media (-the link to the homepage of the band)

SERIOUS BLACK - "LONE GUNMAN RULE" (2017, "MAGIC")