MANTICORA

Stylistically the material on "Darkness With Tales to Tell" are also a continuation of the power metal of "Roots of Eternity" (1999). It´s all just more well written, more memorable, and even more well performed. A step up from the debut album in all departments. The music style is a combination of heavier US power (sometimes even thrashy) elements, neo-classicial influenced Euro power metal elements, and a touch of progressive metal. Manticora are an incredibly well playing unit and all involved are skilled performers. Lead vocalist Lars Larsen has a voice and singing style that are probably aquired tastes though, and that part of the music will be a deal breaker for some. He is a skilled performer with a relatively unique singing style, but sometimes it feels like he sings in the same range too much and that his melody lines resemble each other on the different songs. The latter of course helps once you listen to the album more, but the former continues to be a slight issue. He is not a rough sounding US power metal vocalist, and he is not a high pitched melodic sounding Euro power metal vocalist either. Instead his singing style is a desperate higher than mid-range vocal style, which is actually rather unique.

The instrumental part of the music is centered around the guitar work of Kristian Larsen and Flemming Shultz, who deliver great hard edged riffs, loads of harmonies, and blistering melodic guitar solos. The rhythm section deliver a powerful, relatively varied, and pounding rhythmic assault, while keyboard player Jeppe Eg Jensen adds both backing, leads, and harmonies to the music. "Darkness With Tales to Tell" also features a powerful, clear sounding, and detailed production, which helps the material shine. Upon conclusion it´s a high quality sophomore album by Manticora, cementing their core musical style and the high quality of their songwriting and performances. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Stylistically the material on "Roots of Eternity" continue the dark and heavy take on Euro power metal that Manticora initiated on "Dead End Solution (1997)". The songwriting and the performances are a notch up in quality from the EP, which is also what I expected and the same can be said about the sound production, which is more professional and powerful than the sound production on the EP. When that is said Manticora haven´t taken a quantum leap on "Roots of Eternity". The addition of keyboard player Jeppe Eg Jensen brings more focus on that instrument, but the music is still predominantly centered around the heavy guiar riffs and melodic themes of guitarists Kristian Larsen and Flemming Shultz (also new in the lineup since the EP).

Lead vocalist Lars Larsen predominantly sings in mid-range, and that´s a good choice because he still sounds a little strained when he hits the high notes, and although he is a skilled enough singer, his voice and vocal style don´t bring that icing on the cake element that the best singers bring to music. The instrumental performances are strong, but there´s little here anyone would think of as unique or original. This is just good solid quality Euro power metal in the heavy end of the scale, with the occasional progressive element thrown in for variation. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Stylistically the material on the 5 track, 24:38 minutes long EP is energetic, powerful, and melodic power/heavy metal with a predominantly mid-range lead vocalist in front. He can sing in higher pitches but honestly he sounds a little strained when he does. The instrumental part of the music is very well played, but the vocals aren't that great in this release. It has something to do with the vocal production too, so it's not necessarily because lead vocalist/guitarist Lars Larsen isn't a skilled singer, but on this release the vocals are definitely the weak link.

While "Dead End Solution" is a power metal release, it's in the harder edged end of the scale with influences from both traditional heavy metal and even occasionally thrash and speed metal. As mentioned above the vocal production isn't that well sounding, but other than that, "Dead End Solution" is a fairly well produced release. A little rough around the edges, but decent enough in terms of production values. Upon conclusion it's a promising start to a career, but I'm not blown away by what I hear on this EP. Still a 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating isn't all wrong.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Anyway, our protagonist this time around seems to have lived a pretty mean life, because he's contemplating his sins - and given that at least one of the songs is overtly themed around the Holocaust, they seem to be pretty harsh ones at that. Like a great many rock operas, the lyrics end up so vague that you're more or less tasked with working out the story for yourself, but it's not really necessary to enjoy the album, which is an enjoyable slice of dark, angsty power metal.

Power metal isn't typically the metal subgenre you think of when it comes to expressing guilt and angst, but Manticora manage to pull it off, eschewing the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy and cheesy optimism of much power metal to produce an album where, even though I don't understand the story very well, nonetheless has a haunting atmosphere that makes it worth a try, even if you aren't usually a power metal listener. I don't think it's quite on the level of the very capable Safe, but it's good enough in its own way.

Manticora's Safe is perhaps the heaviest, scariest thing I've ever heard which can still call itself power metal, with excellent opener In the Abyss of Desperation introducing the listener both to the band's crushing, galloping riffs, mild symphonic touches to spice things up, and the unique vocal style of lead vocalist Lars Larsen, which manages to sound simultaneously powerfully operatic and weirdly fragile, like it could give out at any moment.

I particularly like the fact that the band really show an appreciation of the speed metal roots of power metal and bring that influence out to play in their work. Looking at the track lengths you may - not incorrectly - expect the band to indulge in some prog-influenced long-form song structures. (There's a sort of Wagnerian chant bit partway into the title track that really gets the goosebumps rising.) But don't be fooled; this is a rough, tough album which will smash you over the head with the band's wild compositions.

Though I think the album slumps in a little, overall this is a solid release which prompts me to look deeper into Manticora's discograpy. If this is 'Safe', I'd tremble to hear what Manticora think constitutes 'Danger'!

on "The Black Circus, Part 1: Letters" Manticora play a quite intriguing and effectful blend of Euro power metal, traditional heavy metal, progressive metal and thrash metal. They are definitely one of the more harder edged European power metal acts out there. Lead vocalist Lars Larsen has a hoarse type voice that sets Manticora apart from most other power metal acts and probably is an aquired taste for some. The addition of female vocals in "Wisdom" are a nice feature that brings varation. There are other more unmistakable power metal features in the music though, like fast played double bass pedal sections, grand choirs and anthemic choruses. Some of those parts remind me slightly of an act like Blind Guardian and how they sounded in the early- to mid nineties. The music is predominantly guitar driven and there are quite a few harmonies being played on the album that reminds me of Iron Maiden. The last influence I´m gonna mention is King Diamond. It´s not only because of the dark horror/ freakshow themed concept lyrics, which have a definite King Diamond quality about them (just listen to the accented narration in some of the tracks), but also because of the semi-thrashy, melodic and powerful music style that Manticora practises.

The reason for the "Letters" in the title of "The Black Circus, Part 1: Letters", is that the lyrics for each of the tracks on the album is a letter written by the narrator to a friend. Telling the tale of his encounter with a black gypsy circus where foul yet exciting things take place. The album features 12 tracks (the Japanese version includes the bonus track "Soul Devourer"). Only 7 out of those 12 tracks are "regular" length tracks though. The remaining tracks are shorter atmosphere enhancing intros and interludes with narration that helps the storyline come along. Intros and interludes don´t always work on concept albums like this, but here they do exactly what they are intended to do. They create atmosphere and suspense before the more "regular" tracks take over and they do it well. Speaking of the "regular" tracks they are all high quality power metal tracks with an emphasis on power. They are quite sophisticated though and therefore a progressive power metal tag isn´t all wrong.

The sound production by Tommy Hansen (who also helped arrange and compose the keyboard parts) is also of high class. A very professional and powerful sounding production.

"The Black Circus, Part 1: Letters" is just through and through a high quality power metal album that should appeal to fans of the more hard hitting yet still melodic adventurous/progressive part of the genre. I think it´s a very impressive release featuring brilliant musicianship, clever songwriting and one hell of a powerful production and a 4 - 4.5 star rating isn´t too much.

The music on "Safe" pretty much follow the usual formula for Manticora. That means power metal rooted in the neo-classical euro power metal tradition but with a much heavier and at times even thrashy edge to it compared to the more whimsical style many of their collegues practice. Lead vocalist Lars F. Larsen can hit some pretty high notes but predominantly sings in a hoarse vocal style (think a heavy metal version of Rod Stewart). But ultimately it´s the powerful and memorable riffs that make all the difference to me. While the music features keyboards this is predominatly guitar driven power metal. The tracks are generally structurally complex and it wouldn´t be wrong to call the music progressive power metal. Especially the 14:10 minutes long title track. The tracks are memorable with anthemic choruses but I never feel that Manticora fall into the cheese trap. Their music is simply too intricate, tasteful and challenging for that. At the same time it can kick some serious ass which the opening track "In The Abyss Of Desperation" is a good example of.

With a professional and powerful sound production, clever songwriting and excellent musicianship "Safe" is in my book one great power metal album that I can highly recommend to fans of the more progressive and heavy part of the power metal genre. I guess Lars F. Larsen hoarse voice might pose and issue to some, but personally I enjoy his vocal style and sound. A 3.5 - 4 star rating is fully deserved.

Firslty, they've tuned-down their guitars to get a crunchier gruntier feel. Secondly, they've dropped the fantasy vibe that was present on the "Black Circus" concept album and thirdly they've written some really good lyrics!!!

So what does this mean? Well, they've lost a bit of their progressiveness but gained a whole lot more accessibility. They still retain their thrashy edge and melodic sensibilities but everything is a bit more stripped back. Keyboards are minimal and there is less going on in the background but they're still happy to compose lengthy instrumental sections and come up with a few twists and turns.

Good for metal fans but not essential for proggers.

Making all those references is a little unfair (or a compliment), Manticora have their own sound . Worth a listen if you like this kind of stuff and certainly one of the better and more original sounding bands in the genre.

But another element they are mixing in their sound now is power metal borrowed from Helloween. Just add faster rhythm, trashy Metallica moments to this Scandinavian metal mix, and you can perfectly imagine, what this album is alike.

To be honest, musicians all are competent, so the main problem there is lack of originality.

And if for collectors of all possible heavy metal music on the world this album could be just regular average victim, for those searching for style and originality this work is just another heavy metal album. You choose.

P.S. This band doesn't play keyboards based prog metal as stated in bio. It will be strange for quartet of two guitars,bass and drums, isn't it?