Label - Vernal Vow Records
Release Date- 25th November 2022
Words- Chris Fletcher
Before his globe-conquering days with arena-filling rockers Ghost (as the Nameless Ghoul known simply as Omega), Martin Persner was the visionary behind the Magna Carta Cartel. Now that his time with Papa Emeritus etc al has ended, he has returned to this mantle with the band's second full length ‘The Dying Option’, and the fact that the project already has plans for another EP and album after this one shows that Persner is more than eager to make up for lost time.
Opening track ‘Arrows’ starts with a gently plucked intro (which according to Persner was inspired by the opening scenes of horror classic The Shining), and is described by the band themselves as like “U2 from Hell” - whether that disgusts or excites you, it is an intriguing proposition nonetheless. From here we move into ‘Silence’, and it’s at this point when the comparisons with Ghost become unavoidable. After playing in the unholy congregation for so many years some common elements in sound are to be expected, however here the similarities do feel a little jarring.
As we become acclimated to the Ghost-like familiarity, however, what follows are eight more tracks of pop-fuelled hard rockin', full of chorus hooks and synth arpeggios that defy you to have a good time. Persner himself has stated that he believes the band are eclectic and seeking new ways to make rock music, and whilst these are big statements to make, there are some hints here that this band are looking to do things a little different.
Some of the tracks on this record have been in the works for close to a decade, and the likes of ‘Sleepy Eye June’ are clear examples of how, with ideas given time to gestate, well-crafted songs are sure to follow. Simply put, this is a good album and one fans of Ghost will certainly want to check out, but also one that shows a band eager to forge their own path. Indeed, whilst Magna Carta Cartel don’t yet have an audience on par with Persner's previous day job, there is no denying that this electro-pop inspired rock has the potential to sound absolutely massive on an arena stage. One listen to the album and the ambition is clear, and if the other releases planned can match and exceed the quality achieved here, then there’s every chance that Persner can go from Nameless Ghoul to rock star in his own right.
7/10.
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