Metal Reviews

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Listen to the album at

http://www.manticora.dk/

There are 6 FULL songs from this album and sound clips from the other songs. The production is very mediocre and the music itself is nothing new.

I have been listening to roots of eternity like crazy lately.. it's soo good.. Ill def check this out.

I think this is a very moody album, and you need to be in the mood for it. I personaly think its a setback from 8 deadly sins, where almost all the amazing bombasitc melodic chorus have disapeared and that's a little sad imho (but then Manticora NEVER delivered two albums resembling one another since they exist ! so its logical somehow). But people who like more agressive and dark power metal will still appreciate this new Manticora offering.

The production sounded pretty good to me, maybe the clips on the site aren't at full quality, and that would be logical.

Anyway, not a bad Manticora album at all, but one I suspect, will require many listens and a special mood to fully appreciate.

Just my 2 cents,
Chris

I think you're right Chris.With each of their albums I have to be in a sort of mood to get into it.I also tend to dislike most concept albums that focus on a darker mood,though there are exceptions.Still,I'll keep givin' them a whirl every now and then.

Manticora's Hyperion both got me fully into metal and into one of the best modern authors I've read. I need to check this out. I haven't heard any of their stuff since Hyperion.

Another band I've never heard. I really need to become a millionaire quick.

My impressions of this album are a bit unusual. Whenever I start listening to this album, at first I'm like "naah I don't like it, why am I even listening to this?" as the songs sound to me a bit unoriginal and their sound annoying. Strangely midway into the album, I'm like "wow, I like this stuff" and by the end I just want to play this again because it sounds so cool and awesome and fresh. I can't understand why this happens, maybe to my ears and brain the first half is weaker than the second half. Or maybe I need to let some songs grow on me.
One thing is sure, that this is an album really worth checking out as there's absolutely nothing wrong with any part, the musicians are in top form, the production is impressive and the songs/lyrics are very powerful. At the moment it's around 80/100 for me and slowly rising so I'll wait for my final rating.

Despite all the praise it's received, I couldn't get into this album.

I have listened to this album twice now and so far i am not into it. I never really got into Hyperion either. I dont know what to think of this band. They are good but i just dont like them much. I dont hate them either though. Meh, i guess. Just Meh.

I kinda agree. Escellent musicians, good vocals (though lacking some variety between tunes), but for me a few songs per album stick out and the rest just melds to gether for one long song or album for that matter. I would put this band in the 75 to 83 category. I think maybe they just dont have that outstanding songwriting ability.Some metal needs to take lessons from Rock, Aor or some contemp music for that category. Many metal bands can do it and many just meld together cool interludes, riffs, and yada yada and never truly have a "song" per say :(

I had not heard of Manticora before so I was pleasantly surprised. I liked this album the first spin, thought it became even better on the second and now it just grows on me for each listen. Gloomy, fast and furious with some excellent tunes and melodies. One of the better releases this year I would say.
Big plus for the vocals too, they don't ever sound like those casual cheesy power metal vocals I have grown accustomed to dislike.

And great to see a fine metal band from Denmark!

Seems like nobody else thinks this band is as good as the reviewer thinks...

How is 8 Deadly Sins? I got it through lala.com, should be here soon.

Hyperion is their best.

In my opinion 8 deadly sins is Manticora's TOP album. Root Of Eternity is also excellent, then Darkness With Tales to Tell.

I never liked Hyperion, never could get into it... my first impression of The Black Circus was it was a new Hyperion album, but with more listens I appreciate it better, while for sure cannot like it as much as 8 deadly sins. The Black Circus doesn't have any bombastic ultra-melodic over the top chorus to blow your mind away like 8 deadly sins have... and since chorus is the most important part of a song for me, I will never find Black Circus superior to 8 deadly sins. But, with time it grows...

Just my 2 cents,
Chris

Repeated listens have made this better than 8 Deadly Sins for me, and about as good as Hyperion (which is one of my favourites of all time). This album is amazing. Too bad voting's closed, as I would change this to my album of the year.

Pretty good music, like the speedy bits and riffs, but the lyrics and spoken word stuff is hilarious, vocals are a bit off too, but bareable.

Worth checking out.