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Praying Mantis: Katharsis
Praying Mantis: Katharsis
Classical Melodic Hard Rock
5.0/5.0
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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.01.2022 | Released: 28.01.2022
An English institution going way back (1973) prior to th New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM), Praying Mantis has been delivering new albums, sometimes sporadically, since 1990. Moreover, the band formed by brothers Tino and Chris Troy has had a stable crew since 2015's Legacy album. Now the quintet returns with their twelfth studio album, Katharsis.
Praying Mantis
While the band (along with Iron Maiden, Saxon, and others) were the tip of the spear for the NWoBHM movement, Praying Mantis has played more traditional and classic melodic hard rock, rather than heavy metal. If you want to quibble, then call their sound melodic metal rock (which would but them in league with Def Leppard, at this point in time). In other words, you can find some edge and heaviness to some of their songs. Examples can include Ain’t No Rock ‘N’ Roll In Heaven, possibly Masquerade, perhaps Long Time Coming, and also Non Omnis Moriar (Latin: not everything dies). But then there's tunes that trip you up with some fine piano (Cry For The Nations or Closer To Heaven), only to lead to rock rhythm and groove, some speed, and some heavy steadiness. Similar perhaps with some more AORish beat and groove are Wheels In Motion and the aforementioned Masquerade which, in turn, can rise heavier. There are two anthemic ballads in the mix, Sacrifice and Find Our Way Back Home. The former is the more metal ballad and heavier; the latter more subtle and turning on classic melodic rock. Two final points need to be made. First, Jaycee Cuijpers continues you to be a sterling vocalist, one of the best in the genre. Second, excellent guitar solos abound throughout. It's a double whammy which makes Praying Mantis and Katharsis an excellent and entertaining album of classic melodic hard rock. Easily recommended.
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The Take Away
Praying Mantis's Katharsis is another excellent and entertaining album of classic melodic hard rock from one of the best bands going. Easily recommended.
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