Symphony said:
At your service, Steve.
Few, if any, can keep up with the happy-go-lucky melodicism of British-Italian combo Power Quest. Together with the harmless singsong of Freedom Call, they manufacture what is most probably the most slick power metal available on today's market. As Power Quest release their naively easy-going derivate the third time around, it's AOR and jolly feelgood Eurovision schlager that fuels my synapses.
Whoever is the main composer of the band, it must be confirmed beyond all reasonable doubt that this tosser (NOT IN THE NEGATIVE SENSE - ed. /Alex) leads a pretty sorrowfree life in some Peter Pan-ish delirium with many coloured castles, kept away from all kinds of evil. Or well, that's at least my interpretation of the only probable reason for the harmless appearance that is Magic Never Dies.
So be it, that "The Message" is a cheesy ballad about a failed relationship, but well, it's a pretty insubstantial heartache kinda thingy, after all, which in the costume of Power Quest feels pretty false. If it's supposed to be tra-la-la, it's gonna be tra-la-la all the way, and not some snail-paced halfbreed (in Power Quest-measures, that is.)
And as far as that's concerned, I receive more than enough on this hour long journey. "Find My Heaven", "Soulfire" "Strike force" and "Galaxies Unknown" are little well-polished pearls pulsating along in a speedy tempo, carrying along some extremely easily digestible melodies. The songs stick on the first listen and do not grow remarkably with time, which is no problem, however, as they, along with their predecessor Neverworld impress with their spontaneity and melodic goodwill. The almost shameless AOR-rendezvous of "Hold on to love" does not really come as a shock, but here, my preferences accordingly, the sugary keyboards are almost too much. Generally, though, they balance skillfully on the border between AOR and power metal, and excel in both the careless verse-chorus-structure of the former, as well as in the feeling of speed and bombast of the latter.
Magic Never Dies is, as expected, a solid album which entertains, but which won't make any big headlines in the world of metal. Good, withouth reaching any surprising heights.
7/10