Praying Mantis Metalmorphosis
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album Time Tells No Lies, UK melodic rockers and New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) veterans Praying Mantis have issued a new EP titled Metalmorphosis. The limited edition EP, which is housed in an embossed digipack, features five classic Praying Mantis songs rerecorded in 2010 by the current Praying Mantis lineup.
Metalmorphosis features three songs from Time Tells No Lies (“Children of the Earth,” “Lovers to the Grave” and “Panic in the Streets”) as well as the song “Praying Mantis” from the band’s first single release and the song “Captured City” that appeared on the original NWOBHM compilation Metal for Muthas. These are the older, classic Praying Mantis songs from when the band was a hungry young metal outfit, but they sound just as vital and spirited, if quite a bit more polished, coming from a band of seasoned veterans. The vocals in particular stand out, as it was somewhat surprising (in a good way) to hear Mike Freeland, who delivered such a polished performance on the band’s 2009 album Sanctuary, get into the stomping hard rock of “Praying Mantis” and the otherworldly metallic “Captured City.”
It’s always a risky business when long-running bands decide to revisit their classic material, but in this case Metalmorphosis sounds exactly like what it was intended to be – a celebration of the band’s history and a testimony to the staying power of a band that has withstood what seems like countless changes in lineups, labels and musical fads. If you’re a Praying Mantis fan, you’ll definitely want to get a copy of this EP (it’s available directly from the band).
Genre: Melodic Rock, NWOBHM
Band:
Chris Troy (b) (v)
Tino Troy (g) (v)
Andy Burgess (g)
Benjy Reid (d)
Mike Freeland (v)
Track Listing:
1. Children of the Earth
2. Praying Mantis
3. Lovers to the Grave
4. Panic in the Streets
5. Captured City
Label: self-released
Web site: www.praying-mantis.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 7.8/10
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