Few bands achieve an intensity to rival Magma's ferocious sound and clenched-teeth emotionalism. Although technically a jazz ensemble, this band's style eludes classification as stubbornly as their music assaults you. Imagine a jazz collective in somber tribal-black robes, wearing amulets in the shape of Magma's "Uniweria Zekt" symbol (the top arc of a circle whose bottom is defined by curved teeth, not unlike a geometric claw); they lurk at their instruments, creating music that is passionate and brutal and dedicated to telling an epic that spans galaxies and eons with its cosmic scope. Imagine a sound that explodes with a progressive fusion of jazz and rock, with touches of East European folk and mystic chanting, harnessed into a style that is akin to Carl Orff, evoking the imagery of entire species marching across the vacuum in celebration and quest for spiritual mastery. These are tales of a race searching for freedom and harmony with both their environment and their soul. Voyages spanning interstellar distance and conflicts between alien cultures are the hallmarks of this epic saga.

MAGMA: Kobaia (double CD on Seventh Records)

Savage jazz with squalling saxophone, rumbling bass, epic piano, spacey guitar and awesomely domineering drumwork. The vocals are harsh, whether screamed in hoarse cries or orchestrated in powerful chorus. The structure is one of progressive jazz fused with a definitive Germanic air. The melodies demand your full attention -- no less will satisfy this music. Intricate percussives drive these songs like impassioned juggernauts.

The story: In a not-to-distant future, after numerous difficulties, an independent group launches an interstellar spacecraft to escape the degradation of Earth's civilization. Colonizing a distant planet they name Kobaia, they build a new society, achieving a high degree of technology and harmony.

At its inception, the band line-up consists of: percussionist and vocalist Christian Vander, guitarist Claude Engel, bassist Francis Moze, pianist Francois Cahen, saxophonists and flutists Teddy Lasry and Richard Raux, with chants provided by vocal maestro Klaus Blasquiz.

MAGMA: 1001 Degrees Centigrade (CD on Seventh Records)

Continuing the epic saga, the band's sound grew more sinuous by 1971, less chaotic. The jazz riffs flow like lava, liquid but searing. The clarinet (believe it or not) adds a monstrous dark quality to the already dense groove. As with any jazz structure, there are long periods of instrumental dalliance, wherein instruments take turns commanding and elaborating the melodies.

The story continues. When a malfunctioning Earth ship shows up many years later, the Kobaians rescue the crew. Learning that multiple cyclic disasters have beset Earth, a group of zealous Kobaians agree to return the Earthmen to their planet and offer cosmic aid to tortured mankind. The Earth does not accept the Kobaian message, instead imprisoning the missionaries and confiscating their spacecraft. Inevitably, the threat of Kobaia's Ultimate Weapon causes the people of Earth to back down.

Incidental personnel changes occur among non-essential band-members, while among the core Vander still rules and Cahen adds electric keyboards to the sound. Jeff "Yochk'o" Seffer enters to handle the horns. Blasquiz's vocals have achieved a spectral growl that is aflutter with unearthliness, becoming a truly cosmic voice.

MAGMA: Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (CD on Seventh Records)

1973 finds Magma producing what many consider to be its most memorable release.

Take everything you've been told so far and intensify it. Thicken the drama with a Wagnerian edge. Enhance the chants with female voices. Give the bass titan attributes. Allow the guitar to squeal with painful cries. Confine all the vocals to multi-tracked choruses, impressing the words with an urgent authority. Pump the melodies full of ultimate importance. The music is unbelievably epic and commanding with increasingly ascendant progressions.

The story this time: Years later, a brave philosopher on Earth advocates conscience over physical existence as a means to escape the impending doom. The Earth people reject his plan and march against him. During this cosmic journey, these warriors encounter the Spirit of the Universe who mutates their consciousness into a state of grace wherein they abandon their physical beings for ultimate purification.

Drastic personnel changes result in C. Vander still at the percussive helm, Janik Top on bass, Klaus Blasquiz doing vocals, Jean-Luc Manderlier on keyboards, Rene Garber on clarinet, Claude Olmos on guitar and Teddy Lasry handling the brass, with Stella Vander's voice adding to the chants.

This 74-minute CD features the album's original 39 minutes, plus a second, coarser version of the entire album. If you think that's overkill, there's another CD release, "Mekanik Kommandoh" (also on Seventh Records) that affords another 38-minute version of the album, this one adding orchestral elements to the choral arrangement.

Audio sample:

Hortz Fur Dehn Stekehn West

MAGMA: Simples (CD on Seventh Records)

During the early '70s, Magma experienced considerable favorable attention -- "1001 Degrees Centigrade" even garnered the prestigious Grand Prix National Du Disque Award. The band released three seven-inch singles from 1971 to 1974, featuring five non-LP tracks of typical Magmaesque fire and growl. Even back in the '70s, these singles were heavily-sought-after collector's items . . . finding them during the '80s and '90s were simply impossible.

In 1998, a 20-minute CD was released that collects those five tracks together, finally making these absolute gems available to all.

MAGMA: Kohntarkosz (CD on Seventh Records)

Horns vanish from Magma's sound with this 1974 release. Drums, keyboards, guitar and bass dominate the music now, sharing the stage naturally with the omnipresent vocal chant in impenetrable Kobaian.

Never shirking its intensity, the music has mellowed to a more plodding pace, evoking a slow descent into temple depths shadowed richly with tension. This anxiety peaks with the ominous cello strains of "Ork Alarm", reaching a cosmic serenity with the keyboard delicacy of "Coltrane Sundia".

The story: Later and elsewhere, an alien invasion descends on the people of Zeuhl Wortz. Entering the tomb of Emehnteht-Re, attempts are made to battle these Ork invaders, who are made of indestructible matter.

Minor personnel alterations. Manderlier, Garber, Olmos and Lasry are gone, replaced by Brian Godding on guitar, Gerard Bikialo on keyboards and Michel Graillier on more keyboards. Both of the Vanders, Blasquiz and Top remain constant.

This 71-minute CD features the album's original 41 minutes, plus another version of the title track.

TO BE CONTINUED