Steve Williams comments on each song on the album Magic Never Dies (2005):
Hey there! Welcome to my short (not short enough I hear
you saying...hehe!) introduction to the Magic Never Dies album by way
of a song by song analysis. I hope it gives you an idea of where some
of the songs and ideas came from.
On with the show..........
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Ascension
- I had the melody and the basic arrangement for this piece quite early
on in the writing process. We wanted something uplifting but a little
bit different to a typical intro. While at the studio, Clive Nolan heard
the piece and asked if he could orchestrate the whole thing for us. I
think the results speak for themselves and Clive has given it an almost
film score type feel. This would also make a prefect "intro tape"
for the live shows I think.
Find
My Heaven - The album opener proper and in many ways a typical
Power Quest song, although the lead melody is played by the guitar rather
than the keyboard. The solo section has a slightly classical feel to it
which adds something extra I think. All in all a song that would sit very
well in the live set, with a big sing along chorus.
Galaxies
Unknown - Without doubt, this is the fastest song on the album.
This one is about the idea of escaping a dying Earth in search of a new
planet to call home. Unfortunately some people are left behind to face
the world being torn apart but a thought is spared for them in the lyric
as well. This song is represented in the album booklet artwork.
Hold
On To Love - The first of a couple of hard rock influenced tracks
on the album, with a message that I think most of us can relate to in
some way. Alessio's vocal performance on this is laden with emotion and
the guitar solo has an almost Thin Lizzy type vibe to it. I could imagine
this song being a big hit on radio, given half a chance. Great fun to
play as well!
Diamond
Sky - Another fast song, this time composed by Andrea and Alessio
which adds a slightly different flavour to proceedings. It's great to
see some of the guys coming in with songs for PQ albums as well. The shortest
song on the record at just under four minutes, but still with that catchy
feel to it.
The
Message - Magic Never Dies' ballad. Beginning with an acoustic
guitar solo and leading into a song about relationships and how being
away for long stretches of time rarely works. The guy still loves the
girl but he loves being on the road just as much. Not necessarily about
being a musician per se, but about anything that involved being away from
home for long periods.
Soulfire
- Stadium rock with a power metal edge! Very anthemic keyboard
progression to open the song and lyrically the song is about no matter
how tough things can get the fire in the soul or the human spirit just
doesn't know when to give up. The solo section of this song is one of
my favourites on the album with it's almost progressive metal edge...another
song that is represented in the album booklet artwork.
Children
Of The Dream - The second hard rock edged song on the album and
one of Alessio's favourite songs on the album. This one is about how when
we are children we have no cares in the world. Everything seems possible
to us and no dream is too far from our grasp. The song goes on to tell
how things change as we get older and wiser. Our perpspective is tinged
with reality, although at heart many of us are still children of the dream.
The imagery for this song in the booklet is awesome!
Strike
Force - Send for the Strike Force! hehe! When you feel in danger......etc.
This song is asking what the hell can we do if we are trapped and cornered
with nowhere to turn and the wolves are closing in. Call on the Strike
Force to solve the problems. Another song with prog metal tinges in places
and another cracking solo section and one that is sure to be a favourite
live. You can see the Strike Force ships in the booklet on a couple of
occasions.
Another
World - Mine and Francesco's favourite song on the new album, probably
because we are brothers in prog! An Eastern theme opens the song before
heading into a very catchy mid paced section. This song is about being
trapped in another world, or is it the same world in the future? This
is also the longest song on the album, clocking in at just under eight
minutes.
Magic
Never Dies - Title track and album closer (except in Japan where
they have the bonus track "The Longest Night"). I just love
the beginning to this track with the keyboard effect and guitar and then
the drums and bass come in before the keyboards and guitars join in properly.
This one is about how the art of magic has been lost over the years and
centuries but the last of the mages "conjured a spell that would
live forever" and sent himself into the future to ensure that magic
survives. This song inspired the album cover itself which I think is our
best yet. Immense thanks to Toxic Angel for such a great CD booklet.
Review
of the album »
Related links:
www.power-quest.co.uk
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