Band: Praying Mantis
Album title: Sanctuary
Label: Frontiers Records
Distributor: Rough Trade Benelux.
Release date: 05/06/2009
Release: CD

Formed in 1977 by the Troy brothers (Tino & Chris), this NWOBHM band recorded their first demo wich received great acclaim in the British heavy metal scene. With a little help of DJ Neal Kay supporting the band by playing their songs they published the maxi-single entitled “the Soundhouse Tapes”.
Later, the song “Captured City” was included on one of the “Metal for Muthas” cd’s. These were two heavy metal compilations made during the rise of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
The compilation contained names like Nuts, Sledgehammer and Iron maiden who gained stardom through this cd, it was also basis of a tour by the artists who contributed the songs to the compilation.
Later on they went to records their debut album called “Time Tells No Lies” with Dave Potts (ex Ten Years After) on drums and Steve Carrol on guitar and vocals. Although it didn’t receive much commercial fortune, the album is recognized as one of the best expressions of the NWOBHM era.
After several line-up changes the band renamed itself as “Stratus” and released the “Throwing Shapes“. When the Troys temporarily reformed Praying Mantis for an NWOBHM nostalgia tour in 1990, they were encouraged by the response to resurrect the band full-time.
After the release of “The Journey Goes On” in 2003 the band went in a short hiatus period that ended in the summer of 2007 and returned now to bring you their last album called Sanctuary.
Recorded In Atlanta with help of producer/engineer Andy Reilly (The Cult, Bruce Dickinson, FM,…), Sanctuary brings great guitar riffs and solos, fantastic and personal lyrics. Combined with great drums an keyboard. These guys still do what they do best, make good music. Although this is not my favorite genre of metal, I still find the songs very catchy and well performed.

Welcome back

83/100

Jeroen.