MANILLA ROAD “Spiral Castle” CD Iron Glory
Wonderful instrumental opener “Gateway To The Sphere” has the right title,
as “Spiral Castle”, “Shadow”, “Seven Trumpets”, “Merchants Of Death” and
“Born Upon The Soul” lead you towards the gateway of magic and creative epic
metal. I have just found instrumental closer “Sands Of Time” a little too
long and too repetitive. MANILLA ROAD has also been touched by the SAVATAGE
syndrome as the vocals are shared between Bryan Patrick and Mark Shelton.
But “Spiral Castle” is what you are waiting of a MANILLA ROAD album : a brilliant
jewel of epic metal.
Patrick Lefevre
MANILLA ROAD "Atlantis Rising" CD Iron Glory
It was good news to hear MANILLA ROAD was back. But these last years, there
is always a certain anxiety about the new disc from heroes of the eighties
that return to life because some of them released a disappointing album.
But the Lords Of Light are still with MANILLA ROAD and this band creates
a new masterpiece. The first song, the strong and threatening "Megalodon"
blows me away. "Atlantis Rising" and "Resurrection" are heavy smashers with
a melodic chorus. "Sea Witch" is a beautiful and thrilling ballad. "Siege
Of Atland and "Decimation" are explosive mixtures with storm and fury. "Flight
Of The Ravens" is a short ballad with a viking spirit that precedes the phenomenal
"March Of The Gods". The last song, the spellbound "War Of The Gods" is a
great anthem. "Atlantis Rising" is an impressive album and another magic
stone put on the road. MANILLA ROAD's future promises to be fine.
Patrick Lefevre
MANILLA ROAD "The Courts Of Chaos" CD Iron Glory
Time to raise the dead and to hope this re-release will give a second chance
to this cult epic metal masterpiece. Instrumental "Road To Chaos" with its
dark and mystical mood is the best way to open the album before the massive
and pounding "Dig Me No Grave". "D.O.A." is a cover of Bloodrock, this song
has a seventies feeling, my vision being the verses are the slow motion of
a reptile, the chorus is the bite, and the fast end is the deadly hallucination.
The godly "Into The Courts Of Chaos" is my favourite epic hymn of all times,
the first time you hear it, the song is engraved in your mind forever. The
devastating "From Beyond" is amazing with its progressive rise of threat.
Then the infernal "A Touch Of Madness" storms your brain. The ravenous "The
Impaler" brings thunder and blood. "The prophecy" is a witching epic tune
that haunts your mind. These songs were on the '90 lp printed by Black Dragon.
The french label said they put three bonustracks on the '90 cd (I only bought
a cd player in September '94...). In fact, this is a song in three parts
("The Book Of Ancients", "The Book Of Shadows", "The Book Of Skulls") called
"The Book Of Skelos", and I had to wait twelve fucking years before hearing
this wonderful piece of art paying tribute to writer Robert E. Howard! "The
Courts Of Chaos" is an eternal jewel of epic metal, and was the last time
for the Shelton/Foxe/Park line- up. There is one bonustrack, a live version
of "Far Side Of The Sun" taken from the "Roadkill - live" album.
Patrick Lefevre
MANILLA ROAD "Open The Gates" CD Dragonheart
If you liked or still like the epic metal from the eighties, you can't escape
to the "Crystal Logic", "Open The Gates", "The Deluge" and "Mystification"
albums. Time has come for the re-release of "Open The Gates" which is my
fave disc from this band. Because "Open The Gates" and "The Fires Of Mars"
are perfect examples for the meaning of the word heavy. Because "Metalstrom",
"Weavers Of The Web", "Heavy Metal To The World" and "Hour Of The Dragon"
are devastating thunders made by mighty warlords. Because "Astronomica",
"Road Of Kings", "Witches Brew" and the long but never boring "The Ninth
Wave" are majestic, grandiose and unforgettable hymns. Because this is original,
magic and eternal music. It is one of the six best epic metal albums of all
times with Cirith Ungol "King Of The Dead", Adramelch "Irae Melanox", Brocas
Helm "Black Death", Omen "Battle Cry" and the Medieval Steel "unreleased
album". As bonus on this cd, there are two live tracks ("Open The Gates"
and "Witches Brew") taken from the "Roadkill - live" album.
Patrick Lefevre
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