Manticora - Roots Of Eternity

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Black Lotus Records
Catalog Number: BLR CD 12
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:23:00

I usually stay clear of anything that's not prog metal or rock these days, but recently there has been a surge of power metal releases that have been catching my ear such as Angel Dust, Voice, and others with slick, polished productions and keyboards. Manticora fall into that category, although they play a more thrashier approach to their power metal and I can't figure out why I'm digging this disc so much.

To start with, the singer has definitely studied the craft of one, Hansi Kürsch - including the vocal harmony style he uses as well. Lars Larsen doesn't have a growly or aggressive voice like Hansi, but the singing style is definitely there. Lars definitely likes vocal harmonies and there are many to be found throughout this disc. His voice is mid-range, and he pretty much stays within one range and hardly, if ever, leaves that range. If he does, it's pleasing to the ear. No screaming, no high pitching, just singing in a mid-range style ands very similar to Hansi Kürsch's vocal approach (not his tone).

The twin guitar work of Kristian Larsen and Flemming Schultz pays much homage to the work of early Metallica, Iced Earth, and maybe a bit of Blind Guardian. This is the driving sound of Manticora, and the layers of guitar make for a huge wall of epic sound. From a thrashy style a la early Metallica, to heavy crunch a la Iced Earth, to soft, sweet acoustic type passages, these guys run the gambit of sound.

The production is stellar - it's slick and polished unlike most power metal of this nature. The guitars and drums are WAY up front, giving this it's huge sound, and the singer really has to have some pipes to make himself heard over this sound and has no problem doing so. The drums are superbly recorded - I wish every prog metal band would at least try to obtain a drum sound as thick and powerful as Manticora's sound.

Overall, this is an outstanding power metal disc - and for me to be digging this as much as I am without the use of heavy keyboards says a lot about this disc. The mere mention of the similar bands I've mentioned is enough to make me run in fear, so go figure out why I like this disc. It's worthy of air guitar and your favorite trash can drum set in the living room for sure - and I suggest that some metal bands take a lesson in production from this producer and the band; this is one huge sounding disc. I can't imagine any power metal fan not going for this one, and it's certainly refreshing to know that some bands care about the way they sound. This ranks up there in serious production. Get out your air guitars kiddies, Manticora is here to bang some heads........

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 (1997) (ep)
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: October 4th 1999
Reviewer: Larry "LarryD" Daglieri

Artist website: www.manticora.dk
Hits: 4708
Language: english