The Codex is the latest project to feature uber guitarist Magnus Karlsson, of Allen/Lande & Starbreaker fame alongside former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist Mark Boals . Rounding out the line up of the codex are bassist Linus Abrahamson and drummer Daniel Flores. Between the quartet they have come up with album that can be best be described as melodic metal at it's very best, how does a blend of Kamelot, Judas Priest, and Magnum grab you?

Opener, Beyond The Dark, typifies the band perfectly, a stunning blend of Kamelot meets melodic hard rock with it’s intricate intro leading to an excellent melodic middle eight and chorus. Raise Your Hands on the other hand is pure up tempo hard rock, but with a Dream Theatre twist to it and Toxic Kiss is pure prime time Judas Priest and is simple brilliant.

Of course with Karlsson in the band there were bound to be echoes of his previous work and Bring Down The Moon is very much in the Allen/Lande mold  with some great driving guitar work and Running Out Of Hate sees the band going in a heavier direction,  with roots of the song again lying with Judas Priest. Dream Makers builds from simple intro and then sparkles with some excellent vocal and guitar interplay.

In our recent interview with Bob Catley he revealed that Karlsson would be the man responsible for writing his new solo album. That news was both a surprise and little worrying, given that Catley needs that Magnum feel to his songs to make his voice work at it's best. However two tracks on this album should quell any such fears.  Whole Again, with it's mournful cello opening and a great Magnum sound, alongside the excellent  Mystery, an up-tempo number with a stunning guitar solo, shows that Karlsson can do the Magnum sound justice,  but in a new and inventive way. Sandwiched between these two tracks is the maximum heaviness of Mistress Of Death, Kamelot meets Pantera, but with more accessible vocals than anything Anselmo produced with that band.

Prisoner is a definite highlight of the album, a blend of heavy riffing with AOR like choruses and You Can Have It All gives the musicians in the band a chance to show off during the intro and has excellent use of light and shade. Finally rounding out the album is Garden Of Grief. Initially fooling the listener into thinking it’s going to be a piano lead ballad, in truth it’s one of the most atmospheric tracks on the album and is real standout, and that’ saying something given the quality on show throughout.

Magnus Karlsson is obviously one talented individual given the quality of his past work and with The Codex and he’s done it again, produced written and recorded what may well prove to be for many one of the albums of the year.

Let us know your views on The Codex

 Track Listing

Beyond The Dark
Raise Your Hands
Toxic Kiss
Bring Down The Moon
Running Out Of Hate
Dream Makers
Whole Again
Mistress Of Death
Mystery
Prisoner
You Can Have It All
Garden Of Grief

Line Up

Mark Boals - Vocals
Magnus Karlsson - Guitars
Linus Abrahamson - Bass
Daniel Flores - Drums