Another double CD from Japan, not cheap at all, but worth the money for EVERY AOR-fan. With on the whole 27 ESCAPE tracks (the name the band called itself for a short time after their debut, before they then changed it in STRATUS, released an album and then finally turned it into PRAYING MANTIS again) and PRAYING MANTIS tracks which have not been released before, beautifully packed in a dark, noble hardcover, in which there is a jewel case inside with the two CDs. A very thick booklet with all texts, an oversized extra-booklet with many photos and an endlessly fold-out pedigree with all line-ups of the band. A paradise for all melodic lovers. The sound of these demo tracks is - of course - not that good, since they ARE demos. But when you behold that these old songs of the beginning of the 80s have been moldering in a cellar you really have to wonder that the latest JACOB'S DREAM doesn't sound better either...

Well this may sound evil, but it is rather a bonus for PRAYING MANTIS hehe..

The song material itself is non-stop top-class. You can't compare it to "Time Tells No Lies", but the band never sounded like that again ;) It goes rather in the ways the last studio albums were. But stop: Who is reminded of the old days by the first 8 tracks is true: These are the ESCAPE-tracks. They sound rougher and a bit more like NWoBHM than the rest of the material. Strange that I like the PRAYING MANTIS songs even better afterwards.. More melodies, more plausibility. However, the right music to relax, to snuggle, to listen to while doing other things, cleaning, writing reviews...er.. listen to it! He who liked the last studio albums won't make a mistake with that. And who does not like the price: take a look at the play time, two single albums also cost that much, and that bit of money more is spent with joy for those extensive corollary material (2 booklets, pedigree)!

music: 8,0-9,5

sound: 5,5-7,5

time: 45:49 (CD1), 55:19 (CD2) (THE MIGHTY SCI!)

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