Magna-Fi – ‘Burn Out The Stars’
Author: Aidan Gray
Hailing from Las Vegas, this quartet of described ‘heavy rockers’ known only as Magna-Fi look set to soon make an impact on your TV’s and radios – and this Summer will surely offer a change up from the list of heavier acts that adorn the side stage of this years Ozzfest. Wallowing in melody driven riffs, and armed with a desire to take their music to the masses Magna-Fi’s EMI/Aezra debut re-issued album ‘Burn Out the Stars’ appears as an offering for those looking for a genuine rock effort. Select tracks such as ‘Where Did We Go Wrong’, ‘When I Leave You, ‘Down in It’, ‘TV Killed Me’, and ‘Beautiful’ carry this album past a generic release, into a decathlon of determined deliverance.
To highlight ‘Down in It’ – it is one of the more definite ‘anthems’ on this CD, taking groovy basslines to the max, and topping it off with hooky riffs, and even a solo to boot. Yet, ‘Down in It’ isn’t the only track that offers a copius amount of catchy lines, or breakdowns – so don’t discount the band if this song isn’t quite what you were looking for.
On an instrumental level, you can tell Magna-Fi definitely draws from some of the artists that have shaped rock and roll over the past 3 decades. Casual elements of Scott Weiland, Dave Grohl, and a tad of Layne Staley adorn the vocal perspective of this disc, with a definite Seattle-esque grunge feeling rounding out the guitar and the heavy hitting rhythm section. On those aforementioned heavier tracks it’s overly apparant how tight the band plays together, even throwing a 6-string treat in the form of guitar solos out to those yearning for something extra in their music – a sure tribute to the proverbial ‘old school’.
Although the underlying meanings that are so deftly apparant in this 10 track disc are rather commonplace and lackluster (i.e- relationships, issues, etc.) the maturity of the band does shine through. Either way about it, the musicianship presented by Magna-Fi definitely makes up for it. The choruses are there, the sound is apparant, it will just be a matter of time before fans of old style rock and roll start picking up on Magna-Fi. If there was one thing that could be said to the band though, it would be to stick to the heavier side of things – The louder songs with the strained vocals, and the wailing guitar, definitely stand clear apart from the calmer, more melancholy tunes that could easily be replaced by more songs like what the band seems to do best – those driving, almost hypnotic rock numbers. A recommendation for those who want to try something new, and who are looking for a new sort of rock and roll album.
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