This band must be the poster child of the no one in the U.S. has ever heard of them despite an illustrious career elsewhere school of progressive rock. With 2002s Breath of Life bringing their studio album total to 11, fewer people in the United States have heard of this group than have heard of Hawkwind, Max Webster, or Nektar (three other bands from that same alma mater). Magnum got its start in Birmingham, England, in the mid-70s. The bands first album, Kingdom of Madness, came out in 1978, right in the midst of the punk rock musical revolution. That timing may be one factor contributing to the bands unknown status. 1979 saw the release of Magnum II. After extensive gigging, the group released Marauder, a live album in 1980, and Chase the Dragon came two years later.