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PRAYING MANTIS - A CRY FOR THE NEW WORLD (1993, UNDER ONE FLAG/MFN)

Colin Peel - vocals; Dennis Stratton -guitars; Tino Troy - guitars; Chris Troy - bass; Bruce Bisland - drums

Praying Mantis at this stage of their career had caught a second wind, and were riding on the huge wave of popularity coming out of Japan. Still with the basis of the band intact, apart from new singer Colin Peel, who when added to the mix, really does have a great voice suited to Mantis' style of melodic rock. The twin guitar work of Messrs Stratton and Troy are a force to be reckoned with in the rock scene, and on this opus 'A Cry For The New World' we are not exactly breaking new ground, but the commitment and class carries it off. Punctuated by subtle keyboard pieces in the background, the predominant guitar attack never lets up.

The calibre of songs are lifted a notch too, with the title track 'A Cry For The New World', the rampant 'Letting Go', the grinding guitar of 'One Chance' and 'Fight To Be Free' all competing with each other for attention. Keyboard parps and guitar interplay comes to the fore on 'Rise Up Again', an anthemic slice of rock if ever there was one. 'Open Your Heart' is not too far behind on the keyboard front, though the track is less dynamic. 'Dream On' is a slower piece, with orchestral leanings and super melodic choruses. 'Journeyman' is a longer workout and gradually builds to a climax towards the albums final track 'The Final Eclipse', a dreamy atmospheric close out.

There are not too many people without a Praying Mantis album somewhere in their collection. You are guaranteed to get value for money, and if the Japanese music buying public are anything to go by, then we in the West are way behind the eight-ball. Start searching out some of their albums now!!

Review By: George Thatcher

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