Cruel Magic (Arg)

CRUEL MAGIC While standard bearers of the NWOBHM movement and responsible for '83's seminal Court In the Act and '87's Suspended Sentence, with Cruel Magic Satan make it abundantly clear that in 2018 they are not interested in simply capitalizing on past glories. Comprised of 10 tracks of searing metal, it is blatantly and profoundly the work of the Newcastle upon Tyne natives at their very best, infusing their signature sound with a more raw, wild and spontaneous vibe than they showcased on 2015's mighty Atom By Atom, in the process displaying more passion and energy than slews of bands half their age. Having reunited in 2012 and returned to touring duty, Satan - comprised of six-stringers Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey, bassist Graeme English, drummer Sean Taylor and vocalist Brian Ross - once more proved their collective mettle with 2013's Life Sentence and follow-up Atom By Atom, both records critically acclaimed and maintaining the high standards of their earlier releases. "I'm particularly proud of what we did with Atom By Atom, the progression we made from Life Sentence" says Tippins, who asserts that they knew they had penned the best song of their career with "The Fall Of Persephone", while the title track and the album's powerful cover art meditate on living through the deterioration of a loved one through dementia. "I think we all know how it feels to lose someone close, but to witness a person you know disappearing 'head first', losing their knowledge, memories, everything that makes them the person they are, that is something else." With such a powerful collection in their hands the band were unsurprisingly eager to take it on the road, and they once again had successful tours and festival runs in Europe, North America and South America, culminating with a slot opening for Pentagram in Helsinki, which Tippins counts as a true honor. METAL BLADE SATAN / CRUEL MAGIC