Another discerning review from Nicolay Løvvold.
Magic Pie is presented as a Norwegian Prog Rock band that is influenced by heavy metal, The Beatles and David Bowie. Anyone sound of mind would be curious about what such a blend might sound like!
I, for one, imagined pure brown guitars, a bone dry vintage drum kit, an eccentric and/or soaring vocal, and maybe some Van Halen-type synths sprinkled on top.
And sometimes in life, you get exactly what it says on the tin; because this track, ‘Everyday hero’, the first release from their forthcoming sixth album, sounded as British as a rural pub with squeaky floors, governors, a bonnie lass or two, football and a jolly good time – in Westertonshieldfieldvilleshire (pronounced Wesshire, in obvious fact).
It’s staggering how the lead guitarist goes full (Iron Maiden’s) Dave Murray there; in both sheer stamina and proficiency. I even thought I heard some three part harmonies spicing things up throughout.
But the guitars are not all British, are they? Because the intro lets you half suspect that a certain Barracuda might fit in there somewhere as well. Ah, nostalgic bliss, and what a fun way to start a song!
It’s very easy to hear David Bowie’s influence in the vocals. He has one of the most characteristic singing methods there ever was, and it is evident in subtler parts than just the playing with falsettos, too. I dare say there are other similarities, also; imagine David Bowie, Billy Idol and (German power metal exponent) Tobias Sammet fused together in glorious fashion.
The song delicately exposes that the band has had a blast putting together this curious and delightful piece which often toys with expectations, while standing proudly and firmly within its own niche.
It’s hard to go wrong with good, old rock’n’roll that harkens back to English yesteryear; somewhere between the time when four blokes sparked outrage by growing their hair past their ears (the audacity!) and wanted to “hold your hand” (scandalous!), and punk rockers sought to shake the foundation of everything plain and orderly.
Rock has been about a lot of things since the beginning, but first and foremost it has, and still is, about good times.
I’d say this track tees up that prospect pretty damn well!
The album ‘Maestro’ will be released on May 16th.
Find them on:
Website: https://www.magicpie.no/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagicPieOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicpieband/
