Artist: BOB CATLEY
Album: IMMORTAL (CD)

Year: 2008
Media type: CD

Over the last 30 years Bob Catley has established a reputation as one of Britain's top vocalists with his work in MAGNUM and more recently as a solo artist.

In 1998, Bob teamed up with TEN front man, and longstanding MAGNUM fan, Gary Hughes who wrote all the songs on his first three solo albums: "The Tower", "Legends" and "Middle Earth". These albums received not only critical, but commercial successes. This reaction from the press summed up the exact aim of these releases perfectly: "Gary has captured that special feel and vibe of "On A Storyteller's Night" perfectly and wrapped it up beautifully in renaissance/symphonic style instrumentation, with big grandiose almost epic film score like production schemes".

Bob made his debut solo appearance at The GODS '98 in November, performing a show stopping set featuring tracks form "The Tower" as well as classic MAGNUM songs. Again, such was the response from critics and fans alike that a full UK tour was booked and Bob’s solo career has gone from strength to strength from then on.

Not content with merely releasing solo albums, Bob has committed himself fully to the role and has performed well over 100 shows as a solo artist, in countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, Benelux and Italy. All this whilst continuing first as a member of HARD RAIN and more recently as the front man of the reformed MAGNUM line-up.

After three albums together and so many other commitments on both sides it was decided that long time keyboard player, Paul Hodson, would write Bob’s fourth solo album.

The style of Paul`s writing complemented the master’s voice and with an added edge of classic Dio-esque metal, "When Empires Burn" brought Bob’s music to a metal oriented audience as well as pleasing the existing fan base. As Bob himself has stated: "This is my Heavy Metal album. I`ve always wanted to do something like this".

With the next album, ‘Spirit Of Man’ Bob sang songs written by his long time collaborator Vince O`Regan and another two British songwriters Dave Thompson and Paul Uttley. Once again the music is harder edged compared to the MAGNUM sound and closer to late 70’s RAINBOW and DIO sound. The inclusion of Bob`s live backing band as the performers on the album gave the material more of a band feel.

Bob’s 6th solo album however brought changes again, as the songwriting was handled by guitar ace Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear, Allen / Lande). He sent on the demo tapes on to producer Dennis Ward who cared about the recording of all tracks with Dirk Bruinenberg (Elegy) on drums and Uwe Reitenauer on additional guitars. Magnus Karlsson strangely plays only keyboards this time, allowing his lead guitarwork to shine only on “End of the World”. Bob flew over to Germany at the end of January 08 to record his vocal parts and “Immortal” took immediately shape as one of the strongest ever from the Magnum singer. The sound is again on the heavy spectrum of Bob’s abilities, but manages to incorporate the Epic atmospheres on Magnum and Bob Catley’s early solo albums. Cover art was specifically designed for the project by Rodney Matthews (Magnum, Asia, Allen/Lande).

TRACKLIST:

01. Dreamers Unite
02. We Are Immortal
03. End Of The World
04. Open Your Eyes
05. The Searcher
06. One More Night
07. Light Up My Way
08. You Are My Star
09. War In Heaven
10. Win The Throne
11. Haunted
12. Heart Of Passion

LINE-UP:

Bob Catley - Vocals
Uwe Reitenauer - Guitar
Dennis Ward - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Magnus Karlsson - Guitar, Keyboards
Dirk Bruinenberg - Drums