Manticora - Roots Of Eternity


Year of Release: 1999
Label: Black Lotus Records
Catalog Number: BLR CD 12
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:53:00

The Danish power metal band Manticora was formed back in 1996 and released a mini-CD in 1998 titled Dead End Solution. In October 1998 they signed to the Greek Label, Black Lotus Records, and the album Roots Of Eternity was released some weeks ago.

What we get here is power/speed metal of the finest order. I was very surprised when I first played this CD, as it's a huge improvement since their debut. The songs are based around the dual harmony guitar-attack courtesy of Kristian Larsen and Flemming Schultz, who are the driving force of the music, coming off very explosive and powerful. The superb mid-ranged harmonic vocals of Lars Larsen are special and are partly how this band maintain their own style, although the Blind Guardian and Iced Earth influences shine through. The pounding drums are very up-front and together with the powerful guitars, the sound is huge. Besides the acoustic passages, the songs are very energetic and up-tempo. The melody lines and choruses provide plenty of melody and should be a delight for all fans of the genre.

The production is excellent. Very polished, crystal clear and with lots of power, creating a wall of sound. Manticora is a hidden treasure, and they show that they can compete musically with the best of them. It's about time the treasure is revealed.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
From Far Beyond (Intro) (0:31) / When Forever Ends (6:49) / The Vision (4:58) / Intoxicated (6:37) / Beyond The Walls of Sleep (3:32) / Nowhere Land (5:00) / The Flood (9:25) / Pale Faces (4:32) / Private Hell (3:45) / Roots of Eternity (11:44)

Musicians:
Mads Volf - drums
Lars F. Larsen - vocals
Kristian Larsen - guitars
Ren? Nielsen - bass
Flemming Schultz - guitars
Jeppe Eg - keyboards

Discography:
Dead End Solution (ep) (1997)
Roots Of Eternity (1999)
Darkness With Tales To Tell (2001)
Hyperion (2002)
8 Deadly Sins (2004)
The Black Circus Part 1 - Letters (2006)
The Black Circus Part 2 - Disclosure (2007)
Safe (2010)
To Kill To Live To Kill (2018)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DK

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.manticora.dk
Hits: 3479
Language: english

  

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