3 comments on “Captured Alive In Tokyo City (2 disc version)”

1. Rick Gillyon says:

   23 March , 1997 at 11:23 am

   Contact Rick at http://www.gillyon.com

   I have the Limited Edition 2CD version of Captured. The first
   thing you notice about this version is that the packaging is superb.
   The whole thing comes in a cardboard slipcase, containing 2 picture
   CDs, 2 booklets with stacks of photos plus lyrics etc., and a
   laminated backstage pass from the tour. Wow.

   In general the album sounds great. The band is in excellent form,
   and are clearly having a whale of a time. Unfortunately there
   are a few problems with this album…

   Firstly, Gary Barden’s voice is not impressive, the only real
   weakness of the performance. I sense little feeling from his voice,
   and his range is limited. Most of the higher notes are not even
   attempted. Frankly, the Troys and Dennis Stratton can do a *far*
   better job of singing than Gary Barden.

   The second problem is the selection of songs for the album. No
   I Know It/Time Slipping Away, no Beads Of Ebony, no Running For
   Tomorrow, no Enough Is Enough, no Battle Royal. But we do get
   *seven* songs from TTPOT. A big mistake, because a number of these
   songs do not reach the standard, and are not very representative
   of Mantis.

   Third problem is the inclusion of Armed And Ready, the MSG song.
   Why?? It’s a poor song, embarrassed by the others here. You would
   think that Stratton’s "solo" efforts, like This Time
   Girl, would be far more deserving of a place on the set-list.

   Having said that, many of the classics are played superbly, with
   the vocalist distracting only slightly. Cheated, Turn The Tables,
   Flirting etc. all sound great. Lovers To The Grave sounds particularly
   good, but I suspect Barden is not singing! The version of Captured
   City here is much better than the original, with the melodies
   and arrangement much improved.

   Overall, a great live album not without its flaws. Why the band
   feel the need for a vocalist at all is beyond me, but this album
   succeeds on the strength of the musical performance, the great
   songs and the *excellent* packaging.

   Get it. Get *two* copies. Then you can make some money from this
   Limited Edition after the next album is a massive world-wide hit!
   😉

   Reply
2. Underground Empire Metal Megazine says:

   23 March , 2001 at 11:23 am

   In the meantime the album which was already reemerged in Japan in 1996 should be available everywhere in Germany also. Admittedly only as single CD. Additionally to this rather slim version in Japan there was also a limited
   edition double CD launched, which contains over 33 minutes of extra music, divided in 7 tracks.

   Next to all songtexts in the detailed booklet there is an additive booklet in a bigger format with many images to be marvelled. And because this is not enough, you also get a 1995 backstage pass with it!

   The sound is felicitous and the performance of the band ist good to very good. Only one doesn’t fit in here: singer Gary Barden has only a limited voice volume what heists some songs their special feeling. A pity, because whoever of the other band members would have sung this, he would surely have done better. The sound material is not without defects, either: what do we need 7 songs
   of the fair “To The Power Of Ten” opus for, when alltime classics such as “Running For Tomorrow”, “Time Slipping Away” or “Battle Royal” are missing?

   But neither singing nor song selection manage to rob the double CD its flair. “CAPTURED ALIVE” does not only belong in every sensible PRAYING MANTIS collection, also all the other fans of AOR / NWoBHM should hedge this section of a great band. With song classics like “Turn The Tables”, “Victory”, “Angry Man”, “Flirting With Suicide” or “Captured City” it’s meldoic at its best!

   In Japan this limited edition is long sold out! At Hellion records you can still save this gem. Who wants or can do without the texts can also buy only the European licenced pressing.

   (THE MIGHTY SCI!)

   Music: -/-

   Sound: 7,0

   http://www.underground-empire.de

   Reply
3. Ignacio says:

   28 March , 2009 at 7:58 pm

   This is Praying Mantis official live album from 96.
   It was not easy to get this one since it is a 2cd limited japanese edition, and it is a nice one since it comes in a slip case with several booklets and cards.
   It also was released in dvd, but in this one the content is cut. At least it has 6 bonus videos, including borderline, can’t see the angels, only the children cry, letting go, this time girl. These ones justify the dvd alone. And it was even harder to get than the 2cd.

   Well, let’s go to the music. The singer is Gary Barden. I really think he did not fit (his voice) very well in Mantis legacy, and probably To the power of ten is the worst Mantis record. And this live record is based on TTPOT tour, so …
   Anyway, the majority of the songs here are great. Victory, Cry for the new world, Can’t see the angels, Only the children cry, Welcome to my hollywood, turn the tables, Cheated, Letting go, Lovers to the grave … and Captured city.
   Just seeing that the tour recorded would have been from the following record … That would have been incredible.
   Anyway, anyhow, it is a nice package.

   10/10 for the video, mantis fans only.

   8/10 for the record, again mantis/nwobhm fans only.

   Reply