MAGNITUDE NINE - DECODING THE SOUL - INSIDEOUT
Finding any fault with Magnitude Nine is difficult. The band has a great moniker, cool album title and a fantastic cover artwork here. Then there is the beautifully understated music, which despite the presence of keyboards somehow manages to click from start to finish. Decoding The Soul is an album rich in melody, progressive elements, as well as hard rock and heavy metal. Co-produced wonderfully by former Loudness singer Mike Vescera and staffed by members of Section 16, Psyco Drama's Corey Brown and guitar wizard Rob Johnson, Magnitude Nine derives a lot of benefit from its members' talents. The songs are subtle and smooth, yet inject virtuoso guitar playing, dexterous solos and remarkable singing to make the album of certain interest to most hard rock and heavy metal fans. The sole problem is the keyboardist who is thankfully secondary to the band's sound. Those who like Fates Warning, Onward, Yngwie Malmsteen and the other bands of the respective members will like this album a lot. - Ali "The Metallian"