MAJIC – “Faded” & “Over”

From the mellower radio ready tunes, and the cosmic anthems to the crushing hard rock, Los Angeles based MAJIC has delivered an absolutely amazing album. “The Room” is chockfull of great songs and there is not a bad one in the bunch. It’s not just a testament of growth for MAJIC but proof that this band has no shortage of ideas. While they may be a forward-thinking band, MAJIC definitely lives in the moment, but they also take their cues from the past. “The Room” is MAJIC at their best and most confident. The production is a perfect fit for the vision of the band, lending texture and depth to the three-piece’s ambitious combination of alternative, classic and progressive rock influences.

MAJIC know how to bridge the gaps between ambitious arrangements and massive riffs, along with soaring vocals and driving rhythms, spiced up with supersonic shredding. Everything fits coherently on this album, and gives an extra sense of intelligence and weight to it, that sets this band apart.

Their sound ignites and explodes somewhere between bombast and grandiosity. It’s fleshed out thoroughly across “The Room”, through a labyrinth of lyrical depth and a wave of musical muscle.

Wil J Hair (guitars), Randy Paine (drums) and Dave Annan (vocals) dig up many nostalgic sounding musical motifs, blended into something fresh and distinctive, and delivered with a combination of swagger, technical aptitude and pure sonic grit.

It makes for one hell of a recording from the band, who perform at legendary world famous venues like the Whiskey A-Go-Go, House of Blues, and BB Kings. MAJIC can be aggressive and in-your-face while still maintaining a full-on melodic sensibility.

The album begins with the crushing guitars and slamming drums of “One”, and when the high-flying vocals slide into the mix, you’ll be totally sold on the sound of MAJIC. The guitar riffs chug, grind and ring on “Love Walk”, which keeps the momentum of the album moving.

This is followed the nostalgic rock n roll push of “Love Like Yours and Mine”. Each passing track continues to build on the one that preceded it, seemingly building towards a climax. Things get more exploratory as the album moves along with the wall of sweeping overdriven guitars on the mid-tempo “Faded”.

Regardless of whether the songs get structurally more complex or even slower in tempo, they never lose their epic quality. The sizzling guitars, rolling basslines and steady drumbeat drives the superb “Lost” which is also loaded with an ear-catching melody and an exhilarating guitar solo.

“Over” gears up the intensity and guitar-crunch a notch but without compromising the catchy vocal hooks. It is yet another epic and emotional whirlwind with all the band’s trademark trimmings inside.

“Change” flips sonic template which the acoustic-driven soundscape and soulful vocals, gifting fans with an expansive and eloquent masterpiece. The climactic “On The Edge” closes the album with ringing guitars and resonating vocals. The big riffs, bigger choruses, intricate guitar interplay, and strong vocals remain at the forefront of MAJIC’s overall aesthetic. There is no doubt in my mind that the band will win over many fans with this release.

The organic instrumentation, the layering of those instruments and the technical nuances each musician adds to every song is top tier. The killer vocals and harmonies complete the puzzle for a vibrantly colored picture. The album drops officially on November 25, an can already be pre-ordered.