Magic Pie – Maestro 2025 Digi WEB

The new album from Norwegian Melodic Prog Rockers MAGIC PIE is on its way. Titled “Maestro”, it is set to be released on Karisma Records on the 16th of May 2025, and we’re featuring it in exclusive at here.

MAGIC PIE’s music is pretty unique, combining the classic sound of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, some prog metal ala Dream Theater, and more melodic waves like Saga. “Maestro” delivers progressive rock, but also classic hard rock with easy melodies, and a clean, uber-polished production.

The album opens with a massive epic, “Opus Imperfectus Pt.1 – The Missing Chord”. It is an over 18 minute album concept storyteller: ”The Maestro” has created a superb symphony, but cannot find that missing chord to make it all complete. This spellbinding track is full of Eirikur Hauksson’s, Ian Gillian like vocals, those wonderful keyboard designs from Erling Henanger, and some amazing lead electric guitar playing from Kim Stenberg. Despite its length, this opener keeps you interested all the time, it’s like 5 songs into 1.

Next, “By the Smokers Pole” it’s a much different and song format track. A rocker in the Deep Purple style when they add a progressive twist to the music. Powerful lead guitar solos and keyboards help electrify this song. “Name It To Tame It” is a grinding electric guitar monster. Hauksson really turns on that Ian Gillan vocal sound for this one. A no nonsense, ‘get the job done’, instructional, lyrics – driven, panther of a song. The keyboards in the middle are absolutely innovative and wonderful. The lead electric guitar ‘jungle of chords” that follows and closes the song is absolutely incredible.

“Kiddo…” has a slow and windy beginning to it. It starts slow, with flute-like sounds and soft acoustic guitar, before Hauksson rejoins and continues the story. The band adds choir-like vocals with Queen-like harmonies to the mix on this, just over 2-minute, track.
“Someone Else’s Wannabe” begins with some dramatic keyboards, before the electric guitars and drums join in. Hauksson’s vocals calls to mind Styx’s Grand Illusion, as he brings more classic pipes, and choir-like additional vocals. A solid rocker full of vigor. Then, Erling Henanger brings out the Hammond keyboards and all bets are off. With Stenberg’s electric guitars joining in on a dual of instruments, you, the listener are the winner.

“Everyday Hero”, opens like a rockin’ rambling song. Full of grinding electric guitar and Hauksson’s vocals, “I’m a near survivor. As a nine to fiver”. It is one of the most memorable lines on the album. The rhyming lyrics on this song, help it to achieve best song on the album levels. You can almost hear the fans and Magic Pie’s live audiences repeating that chorus, already. Henanger’s work near the end of the song are some of the best keyboard sounds on the album.

“Opus Imperfectus Pt.2 – Maestro”, is the album closer. It opens with echoing electric lead guitar while Hauksson sings the closing lyrics of the story. Henanger’s ivory also stand out well on this epic closer. The choir-like vocals that surround the soundscape, give tribute to this great music developer and designer of music; the Maestro!

”Maestro” reminded me so much of Deep Purple’s ‘Perfect Strangers’. Not because of the subject matter, but because Eirikur Hauksson’s voice sounds so much like Ian Gillan on that album, during that era of Deep Purple. No, ”Maestro” is not as memorable as Perfect Strangers, but has its own fine moments. The opening opus is one I would listen to repeatedly. I am sure, “The Pie Army”, is already printing up t-shirts to accompany their voices on the chorus of “Everyday Hero”. “Someone Else’s Wannabe” and “Name It To Tame It”, would fit well on many of Deep Purple’s best albums.
If you are a classic Deep Purple and classic rock with prog twists fan, this album will be celebrated and enjoyed for years. So don’t be a mere survivor, be a nine-to-fiver and celebrate the ”Maestro” with some Magic Pie.

1. Opus Imperfectus Pt.1 – The Missing Chord
2. By The Smokers Pole
3. Name It To Tame It
4. Kiddo…
5. Someone Else’s Wannabe
6. Everyday Hero
7. Opus Imperfectus Pt.2 – Maestro

Kim Stenberg (g, bv)
Eirikur Hauksson (lv, bv)
Lars Petter Holstad (b, bv)
Martin Utby (d, bv)
Erling Henanger (k, bv)

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