Band : Praying Mantis
Album title : Metalmorphosis
Label : Own Release
Distributor : Hard N Heavy Promotion
Release Date : 21/02/2011
Release : CD

When I was converted to rock music, it was with Iron Maiden, Van Halen and Judas Priest.  They were the first bands I listened to.  Gradually I started appreciating more and more bands, until somewhere in the beginning of the eighties I bought an album by Praying Mantis, called ‘Time Tells No Lies’.  This album still finds it’s way, however I’ve bought is as a CD in the mean time.

So with great enthusiasm I put this mini album in my player, since two out of the only five songs on this album come from their ‘Time Tells No Lies’ album.  This release is meant to celebrate that their debut album ‘Time Tells No Lies’ was released 30 years ago (is it already 30 years ago..????)
 Over the last 30 years the line-up of the band has frequently changed, with only the Troy brothers staying on board for the whole period, so for the actual vocalist Mike Freeland is was probably quite a challenge to re-record this songs.

The songs themselves still are as good as when they were first released, that’s a certainty.  And, just like in the old days, the guitar duels between Tino Troy, and actual second guitarist Andy Burgess sound just as good as the original.  Still to me personally, I find the old version better, mainly because I find the vocals of Mike Freeland not as good as those by the Troy brothers.

80/100

Erik Morren.