The French band Magma is the brain-child of drummer/composer Christian Vander formed in Paris in 1969, disbanded in 1983 and reformed in 1996. Starting with a base of experimental rock heavily influenced by jazz and 20th Century Classical music, the band developed such a unique style of progressive rock that it became a new genre called zeuhl. Characterized by insistent and repetitive rhythms, dramatic vocals, virtuosic solos, heavy bass playing, and jazzy drums, zeuhl has been emulated by numerous followers from all over the world.
Much of Magma's music is written in the invented language Kobaïan and concerns a lengthy saga about the Earth and the planet Kobaïa, with spiritual and environmental themes.
Musician John Lydon (of PiL and Sex Pistols fame) is known to have been a big fan, even seeing the group in concert.


The Argentine Magma has been described as a progressive folk group. The music retains strong Andean influences and is notable for incorporating the flutes of the region. Their output is notable for meshing the Andean elements with Spanish folk guitar and the adoption of European song structures and instrumentation. Extended prog and folk songs see the use of both Mellotron and pan flutes. Despite being an 1980s outfit, their music is reminiscent of 70s progressive rock and 60s/70s folk. Truly a great example of music transculturation on various levels.


There are several other bands named Magma, including one from Germany that recorded an album called Rock Duo Magma in 1975, a folk-progressive group from Argentina (led by singer Alberto Felici) with several albums in the 80s/early 90s, a psychedelic band from Korea and a pop-rock group from Poland.


There is also MAGMA, modern thrash metal bend from Belgrade, Serbia. They are a famous underground Serbian demo band, and they are going to record an album this year.