Sanctuary Reviews
Sentinel Web Mag ‘Sanctuary’ Review
by Sonia on Jan.05, 2010, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
http://www.thesentinel.es/
English Translation here
Dammit, how I love to do a review of a new disc of Praying Mantis, not by writing, but because one of my beloved rock, with which I grew up, groups continues in the gap with what that means. Additionally, with a record like this, that keep some of the identity characterized them in the early 1980s, the melody and folded guitars.
Get Ready To Rock.com writer Joe Geesin – Top CDs of 2009: Rock On!
by Sonia on Jan.05, 2010, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
SAXON Into The Labyrinth
Better than a return to form, a cracking album
PRAYING MANTIS Sanctuary
Melodic hard rock at its best
MAGNUM Into The Valley Of The Moonking
Nearly Classic Magnum, great new album
W.A.S.P. Babylon
Best album since Crimson Idol Rei…ssues (all long overdue and proper treatment)
SAXON catalogue (EMI)
MSG catalogue (EMI)
THE DAMNED Phantasmagoria (Universal)
HAWKWIND Atomhenge series (Cherry Red)
Marios Metal Mania (IT) ‘Sanctuary’ review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Marios Metal Mania
http://www.mariosmetalmania.com/CDDVDreviews.html
PRAYING MANTIS – Sanctuary (CD)
United Kingdom
October
2009 Kostas Kounadinis
Style: Melodic Metal
Running time: 61:40 (Tracks: 12)
Hard Rock veterans Praying Mantis are back with a brand new studio album. The Troy brothers have recruited a new line up and present us the long anticipated “Sanctuary”.
Initially I was planning on writing a huge text but to be honest there are not many things one can write.
The Mantis is back with yet another winner. “Sanctuary” is an instant classic, a shinning jewel upon the band’s crown. Everything yells Mantis.
Rock OF Ages (UK) Praying Mantis 'Sanctuary' review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Praying Mantis – Sanctuary….
Praying Mantis, still guided by Tino and Chris Troy, have returned with
what I think is an impressive new album, and for a band occasionally
labelled as disappointingly lightweight since a superb debut way back
when, it’s a deliciously forceful yet still melodic offering too. That
the melody comes by way of guitars rather than layers of keys a clear
contributory factor to this being so impressive.
this album, at least initially. Possessing a video clip to support it
it’s definitely accomplished stuff, the acoustic opening suggesting a
ballad yet somehow, thanks to some meatier licks and a forceful vocal
from Mike Freeland it grows to a greater magnitude. Okay, perhaps had
it been up to me I’d have liked to see the heavier, quite modern
sounding mini-epic that provides the album’s title and closes the
release get the spotlight treatment (Sanctuary a close second for my
selection as highlight on the disc) but quite honestly the choice for
the video clip is the only real complaint I’d have on this apart from a
perhaps picky thought that the album is consistently very good but
lacks a real, repeat play demanding, killer track or two.
Euro-metal about it, the swirling guitar motif similar to Stratovarius
whilst later offering “So High” would grace any Helloween album.
Similarity to either band is no bad thing in my book though and both
efforts impress greatly although there’s a bit more of a British feel
to much of the remainder of the album to my ears, “Tears In The Rain”
for instance managing to eclipse both with a particularly impressive
introduction to a song that reminds me of Whitesnake’s “Crying In The
Rain” a touch and actually grows into a song that had Coverdale got
hold of it many years ago could have been huge.
are all hugely enjoyable offerings too that whilst perhaps not unique
enough to stand out if heard in isolation make for a fine overall
package. Actually, in many ways, the Journey-esq “Highway” aside, this
album reminds me of so many British bands down the years, the likes of
FM, Shy, even Magnum and the pre-Americanised Whitesnake on occasion
all entered my thoughts whilst listening. All bands who delivered some
great melodic rock yet didn’t seem to get the all important overseas
breaks. At the very least this deserves to win a few new admirers for
the veteran British band.
Metal Integral France ‘Sanctuary’ review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Metal Integral France:
Praying Mantis ‘Sanctuary’ review
http://metal-integral.com/chronique.do?chronique_ID=1050
PRAYING MANTIS – Sanctuary
Style : Hard Rock
Support : MP3 – Year : 2009
Origin of the record : Received from the Label
10track(s) – 51minute(s)
Label(s) :
Frontiers Records
(16/20)
Author : Rémifm
Publishing date : 21/05/09
L’ venture continues…
Rise Metal E-zine (ESP) ‘Sanctuary’ review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
PRAYING MANTIS
Praying Mantis , led by brothers Tino and Chris Troy (guitar and bass respectively), are part of the scene for over thirty five years prior to the outbreak of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal between the late ‘ 70 and early ’80s where bands like Angel Witch, Saxon, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden managed mainly stand out above others of the many groups that arose in that country after the furore and subsequent decay of the punk scene.
Fireworks Mag UK: Praying Manti 'Sanctuary' review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Metal Invader – (Greece): Sanctuary Review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Praying Mantis – 5 Sanctuary
(Frontiers Records)Total Time: 50:58
Mantis did it again man.
Yes I would expect nothing by those British
pioneers of electric Rocking melody than another catchy, hard as a rock
and melodic masterpiece.
Sanctuary is already on my top ten list with
the albums of the year. Why? Because is one of those albums that you
are listening from the beginning to the end without skipping any track,
because it is full of inspired melodic Hard Rock songs, enforced by
beautiful leads and crystal clear vocals, because all the songs has
this magic Praying Mantis touch, because one of the best songs of the
album (In Time) is the album opening track (following this little
Praying Mantis Tradition) and because Praying Mantis are still offering
MUSIC to our ears, nothing more and nothing less.
Digital Steel – Netherlands ‘Sanctuary’ review
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Digital Steel – Netherlands
http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.php?headpage=albumrevs&id=1414
01. In Time
02. Restless Heart
03. Tears In The Rain
04. So High
05. Turn The Tide
06. Touch The Rainbow
07. Threshold Of A Dream
08. Playing God
09. Highway
10. Sanctuary
After years of playing their classics live on stage, British hard rockers Praying Mantis are finally back with a new album. It is with this album that they show their variety of styles and their grown craftsmanship. Their over-all style is powerful melodic rock with close harmony vocals and brilliant guitar solos. This style was built during the 1990’s already, but it may come as a bit of a surprise to those who only know their debut album from 1981 which is still a classic in the NWOBHM-history.
Spirit Of Metal Review France
by Sonia on Oct.14, 2009, under News, Sanctuary Reviews
Spirit Of Metal Review France
http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Praying_Mantis-nom_album-Sanctuary-l-en.html
Praying Mantis are a proper old school heavy metal band, formed back in 1979 in the UK.
Their newest album ‘Sanctuary’ has come after a gap of 6 years since their last full length ‘The journey goes on’, and they deliver an excellent, rocking album full of soaring riffs, melodious solos and memorable choruses.
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