The English hard rock band Magnum, formed in Birmingham, recorded their sixth album, “Vigilante”, at Mountain Studios in Montreux, released in 1986 on Polydor. The record bears the mark of the place: it was produced by David Richards, the in-house engineer, and by Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer and owner of the studio. The band’s sound shifted towards that of 1980s Queen, keyboards pushed ahead of the guitars. Three singles were drawn from it: “Lonely Night”, “Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)” and “When the World Comes Down”.
Magnum came from Birmingham and had been playing melodic hard rock since the mid-1970s. In 1986 the band went to record their sixth album at Mountain Studios in Montreux, the studio Queen had owned for seven years.
All nine tracks were written by guitarist Tony Clarkin and sung by Bob Catley. The album would be called “Vigilante” and released on Polydor.
Two producers, and a Queen colour
Production was entrusted to David Richards, the in-house engineer at Mountain Studios, and to Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer and co-owner of the place.
The result is audible at once. The band’s sound moves closer to that of 1980s Queen: keyboards come forward over the guitars, the vocal harmonies fill out, the whole gains in scale and sheen. An English hard rock band reappeared with the polish of the studio it had worked in.
