Short Reviews [Magic Pie - 2025 - "Maestro"]

I still remember the impact this progressive band's debut album made on me when I came across it in 2005, and there is no doubt that each of the releases of theirs I have heard since then have had a huge impact on me. The only issue I have ever had is that there tends to always be quite a gap between releases, and that is the same here as it has been six years since "Fragments of the 5th Element", but apparently they have already recorded drums for their next album so perhaps we will be treated somewhat more quickly for the next one (or not). All the music is written by guitarist Kim Stenberg, so it is not surprising that it is very guitar forward, and in many ways has the hard rock approach of the likes of classic Uriah Heep and Deep Purple along with The Flower Kings and complexity of Dream Theater, but there is always room for the keyboards to come forward and make an impression. The vocals do not seem to have as many harmonies as I seem to remember, and while the guys are still packing as much of a punch as ever there are some obvious problems on opening track "Opus Imperfectus Pt. 1 - The Missing Chord". There is no other track longer than eight minutes, yet this opening cut somehow manages to come in at more than 18, and there are times within this when the band seem to be just waiting for something to happen. When they are in full flow they are totally glorious, everyone in perfect harmony and moving at rapid pace, but there are times when they lag, and it is at this point they really make me think of The Flower Kings who more than once in their career could have done with an external producer. Kim Sternberg obviously likes to be in control as he not only produced this album but also provided the artwork, and there are times when an external pair of ears may have lifted this to another level.