To play traditional Heavy Metal today can seem easy, but it's a great mistake to think in such way, because the genre is extremely eroded due the use (and abuse) of known formulas. So the best to do is to try to show your personality in the middle of the flood of those 'mommy-I-want-to-be-other-person' bands (the ones that are just copying what is left on the sands of time). This lesson seems to be learned by the Norwegian trio MAGICK TOUCH, as can be heard on "Cakes & Coffins", their fourth album and latest release. This power trio uses a formula of pure Heavy Metal with some aspects of the 70s and 80s being revisited, as some Hard Rock traces of those days are presented as well, but always with their own personality.

It means that the old formula gains formula, sounding like THIN LIZZY, ANGEL WITCH and others on this same way in an updated form, similar to what is heard on the works of GRAND MAGUS, but with more Hard Rock insight, and can fit on the taste of those who are fans of acts as old GHOST, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD, WITCH MOUNTAIN and BLOOD CEREMONY as well. The songs aren't technically complex, the energy is amazing, and the melodies are great, so what are you waiting for to dive into the album? "Cakes & Coffins" was produced by the trio along with Per Borten (who did the sound engineering at Sørgården Studio, the same place where the recordings were done), with mixing of Håvard Soknes and mastering of Iver Sandøy. The sonority of the album, as a result of their works, is heavy, strong and organic, but defined and clean. It's what their music needs to become alive and ferocious, yet melodic. And the artwork for the cover, a creation of Andreas Pilskog/Overhaus is really simples, but yet charming (and fits on the band's musical work).

Their music has an old fashioned appeal (without sounding moldy or outdated), with all of their ten songs being excellent, and to taste moments as "Apollyon" (the organic weight of the song, along with the excellent guitar riffs and arrangements, makes things even better), "The Judas Cross" (another excellent set of melodies, with vocals and backing vocals showing an excellent work, especially on the chorus), "When Eating a Wolf" (this one bears an oppressive and melancholic ambience, but with a melodic appeal that's hard to resist to), "M.I.N.A." (this one brings their music into an 80s outfit, with some melodies near Hard Rock of those days, along with some NWOBHM traces), "Guillotine Dreams" (this one has melodic elements usual for 70s Hard Rock, but how weighty it is, maybe due the excellent bass guitar and drums parts), "Raven" (another moment plenty of melancholic and deep melodies, with charming arrangements on the guitars), "Demons & Rust" (another moment plenty of Hard Rock influences, with excellent rhythms and lead guitars) and "World is Coming Down" is a privilege. But the entire album is really an excellent experience for the ears.

Congratulations, Hans, Chris and Bård, because you made "Cakes & Coffins" a great album. And if the readers don't know MAGICK TOUCH's music, you're late, but this album is an excellent opportunity to do it!