Metal Integral France – 'Sanctuary' review

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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

http://metal-integral.com/chronique.do?chronique_ID=1050
30 years ago, yes you read correctly, PRAYING MANTIS released its first EP 3 tracks, entitled “The Soundhouse Tapes.” NE 2 years earlier, in 1977, PRAYING MANTIS is the project of two brothers Greek-Spanish, property and Chris named Tino TROY (nothing to do with NIP / TUCK!)

Chris and Tino are multi instrumentalists / authors / composers / performers / producers, over PRAYING MANTIS albums were imposed as a lighthouse, first of NWOBHM to our dear President (of our association, of course!) before slipping slowly into a hard-rock tinged melodic keyboards. Chris and Tino have always surrounded himself with excellent musicians to co write and interpret their hits countless compositions, recognizable among a thousand! (Paul DI’ANNO, Dennis STRATTON, Gary BARDEN, Tony O’HORA, Doogie WHITE etc..)

Where is the group in 2009?
The Sanctuary is proof that the group still has a beautiful artistic flame! I liked in the first pocket full of meaning … I liked and then found a very talented singer, Mike FREELAND, whose timbre and phrasing recalls John WEST (ARTENSION, ROYAL HUNT) for the better.

Even if it does I will remember Tony O’HORA, I must say that the service is to highlight for its class.

Finally I liked the production and mix finally successful for the group and created by Andy REILLY (ASIA, THE CULT, Bruce DICKINSON, FM etc.), which confirms that the TROY brothers in their interest to leave that job to the best they. Side compositions, without reaching the sublime of Forever In Time in 1998 and Nowhere To Hide in 2000, this Sanctuary, which exceeds the high hand of the The Journey Goes On deficient s’écoute 2003 with great pleasure.

We find a hard rock-inspired melodic lines with beautiful singing, good songs and the whole is very consistent. Keyboards are discreet but accurate, the rhythms are a little harder than on the albums listed above and the fans of the group and the style should find food for rewards.

The highlights for me were on the tracks 5 and 6, with the lovely ballad Lonely Way Home and Touch The Rainbow and cheerful driving.

Overall, other “take the road” and a sense of unity emerges from the album. Damage to me that this formidable production is present in the Forever In Time to Nowhere To Hide in 2000 and 1998!

For the Sanctuary, we find alongside Andy, Mike, Chris and Tino, Andy BURGESS and Benjy REID to guitars to drums.

A great team for a good album!

Fan Comments:

Waahh I love it this album. It runs in heavy rotation in my Restless Heart – Touch The Rainbow – Threshold Of A Dream what happiness. Riff, of chorus imparables, melodies… As Martial I expecting it one above.

I have heard a little and there are altogether magical titles. (Touch The Rainbow) Very nice Rémi flow. And she’ll want to have this new opus. Eric

Thank you to you for your comments … Shame I can not do the same when I read on HR80! For I will return you compliments also … See you soon and yes, Touch The Rainbow is really Sublime The title of this album! Vive PRATYING MANTIS!

WHEW! need me one there! Unable to switch to this British legend of the hard. Thank you this flow which gives Rémi envy. Martial