“As sun fades away behind the hills into shadow.“
With 2019’s To Whatever Fateful End, Magnitude displayed some of the strongest and most well thought-out 90s/00s revival hardcore. With a forceful blend of straight-edge sensibility, it allowed listeners who grew up in that era to indulge in nostalgia and exposed younger audiences to a sound that in some cases had started to become resigned to the archive. Now Magnitude face the task of following up their debut with their latest record Of Days Renewed….
Leading in on “Deliverance“, it’s fair to say that Magnitude have picked up right where they left off while still maintaining the voltage they’ve had over the years. Tantalising riffs play off each other, between the 90s stylised chords and a more modern, chunky edge. “Burn The Ashes” throws in a healthy dose of attitude, with pointed vocals and lyrics towards the climate crisis alongside a limb-throwing breakdown for good measure.
Magnitude continue to refine on what they’ve previously built, with an exceptional mix and production which allows everything to sit neatly on the ear, even in moments where the bass weighs in more heavily. Everything has a satisfying edge to it, almost itching a scratch you never knew you had. Even as the record enters into midpoint tracks such as “Beyond Despair”, it is littered with vocal hooks such as “I long to be set free, and feel beyond despair” which lend a softer edge to the group’s niche sound.
As the runtime ticks over its halfway mark, the lack of interludes becomes noticeable on a Magnitude record. It will be a coin flip for the individual listener as to whether they are missed, as the more extended did feel slightly too long on previous material. Yet there is a curiosity as how Magnitude could have potentially used them here, given the tension and atmosphere they have lent records in the past. Personally, there absence doesn’t detract from Of Days Renewed…, given the plethora of solid riffs on display here and the undeniable ability to get lost in the two-step beats.
Traversing through the closing stretch of “Echoes” and title track “Of Days Renewed“, the commanding lyrics “I dream of days renewed” begin to sink in. Of Days Renewed… on the surface does tinker around the edges of previous material, which is difficult to fault given how quickly Magnitude perfected it. Yet, it is in exploring its authentic themes of moving forward where Of Days Renewed… really takes its own steps forward and shows the promise Magnitude have.
7.5/10
Of Days Renewed… is out September 15th via Triple B Records, and can be pre-ordered here.