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PRAYING MANTIS - NOWHERE TO HIDE (2000, FRONTIERS)

Tony O'Hora - vocals; Dennis Stratton - guitars; Tino Troy - guitars, keyboards; Chris Troy - bass; Bruce Bisland - drums

Still continuing to release great melodic hard rock into the 21st Century are UK's favorite sons Praying Mantis. One of the earliest progenies of the NWOBHM back in that era of Iron Maiden , Def Leppard , Saxon etc, Praying Mantis have been through up's and down's, on's and off's before settling into a rhythm of consistency during the nineties, fuelled by legendary support from it's huge army of fans, mainly in Japan.

They've released some wonderful stuff of late, such as 'A Cry For The New World', 'Predator' and 'To The Power Of Ten'. Then there was the powerful 'Forever In Time'. However, I'd suggest that with this effort 'Nowhere In Time' that they've topped all before them. Kudos to Frontiers for getting these boys signed, as mostly we'd have to get their albums on hard to get Japanese releases. Musically, they continue the same pattern as on their previous efforts, but the concoction of melody and twin barrelled guitar attack hasn't been heard since, well .. the last Praying Mantis album! No, seriously, the likes of UFO , early Iron Maiden or even Ten don't even get a look in.

Tony O'Hora's vocals are inspired, sounding like Max Bacon at times, the combined work of Stratton and Tino Troy is seamless while the rhythm section just keeps on keeping on. The title track 'Nowhere To Hide' is an orchestrated melodic affair, with guitars and keyboard layers combining with deep vocal harmonies. This extends into the brilliant 'Cruel Winter'. 'I Can't Stop The Fire' has an anthemic chorus, before moving into the superb 'Future Of The World'. 'Naked' which is a bonus track on this CD version also rocks along with a strident purpose, not before Bruce Bisland's drums kick on the double beat with 'S.O.S'. Elsewhere, the material is strong, consistent, and catchy.

There is some great stuff happening on here, and despite their age, Praying Mantis just seem to be getting better and better. Like a fine aged wine. Perhaps we in the Western World are finally cottoning on to what the Japanese have known for years.

Review By: George Thatcher

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