Magenta release free compilation album

By Scott Munro
( Prog )
published

Magenta release 9-track Essential collection on Bandcamp for free - featuring Trojan, Demons and Sunshine Saviour

Magenta
Magenta (Image credit: Stuart Wood)

Magenta have released a best-of compilation through Bandcamp for free.

Titled Essential, the 9-track digital album features a cross-section of their music, including a single edit of their epic 26-minute song Trojan, which appeared on the band’s most recent album We Are Legend.

Magenta’s Rob Reed says: “So many times we have people coming up to us at shows to say that they didn’t even know we existed, then discover the band and as a result become fans for life.

“The purpose of this album is to have something that we can point all music lovers to. It’s available on all good – and not so good – platforms such as iTunes and Spotify. It’s also available as a free download at the Magenta Bandcamp site.”

Last month, Magenta announced three special 2018 shows where they’ll play We Are Legend and 2004’s Seven in full.

They’ll perform at The Globe in Cardiff on April 6, London’s The Dome at Tufnell Park on April 7 and The Robin in Bilston on April 8.

Reeds said: “The response to the songs that we played from We Are Legend were hugely positive and we know that what Magenta fans want to hear now is a full live version of Trojan, so we’ll be playing that at the gigs in 2018.

“Seven remains our best-loved album – and we’ve played many of the tracks live from time to time. However, this will be a very rare chance to hear the whole album, including the epic tracks Greed and Sloth.

“We have some big plans for these gigs, and we can’t wait to share them with everyone.”

Magenta will also play at HRH Prog 6 at Pwllheli, Wales, in November.

Magenta Essential tracklist

  1. Trojan (Single edit)
  2. Pearl
  3. The Lizard King (Single edit)
  4. Demons
  5. Anger
  6. Metamorphosis (Single edit)
  7. Red
  8. I’m Alive
  9. Sunshine Saviour

Magenta's Rob Reed: "I had dig deep to find something new to say"

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.