Top tracks — play these first
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How Far Jerusalem — This track encapsulates the band's grandiose sound with its sweeping melodies and poignant lyrics that reflect on longing and hope.
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The Lights Burned Out — Combining introspective lyrics with a powerful chorus, this song highlights Magnum's ability to blend emotional depth with hard-hitting instrumentation.
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Soldier of the Line — A quintessential hard rock track, it features driving rhythms and a memorable hook, showcasing the band's classic sound while addressing themes of resilience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Mirador showcases strong melodic writing but lacks the cohesive flow of Magnum's work.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks incorporate layered harmonies and guitar solos that build to climactic moments, particularly in 'How Far Jerusalem' and 'The Spirit'.
- The lyrics often explore themes of adventure and introspection, with a narrative quality that ties the songs together.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- storytelling that invites reflection
- wave-like pacing for engagement
- epic themes for adventurous spirits
- captivating imagery throughout tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek concise standalone songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1987, Mirador was Magnum's seventh studio album, following their successful release of Vigilante in 1986. At this point, the band had solidified their presence in the UK hard rock scene and were exploring more ambitious songwriting and production techniques.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tyketto· Threshold· Stratovarius
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Just Like an Arrow 3:25
- 2 Soldier of the Line 3:30
- 3 Changes 3:44
- 4 Sacred Hour 5:33
- 5 Great Adventure 4:53
- 6 The Lights Burned Out 4:31
- 7 In the Beginning 7:49
- 8 How Far Jerusalem 6:30
- 9 The Spirit 4:22
- 10 The Word 4:58
- 11 The Prize 3:43
- 12 Kingdom of Madness 4:25
- 13 If I Could Live Forever 4:03
- 14 Lords of Chaos 3:35
- 15 On a Storyteller's Night 5:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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