On disc: Manilla Road

 
 Crystal Logic
 
- Eamon O'Connor -
 
 


 
 Open The Gates
 
- Eamon O'Connor -
 
 


 
 The Deluge
 
- Eamon O'Connor -
 
 


 
 Mystification
 
- Eamon O'Connor -
 
 


 
 Out Of The Abyss
 
- Eamon O'Connor -
 
 


 
 Playground Of The Damned
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 

Playground Of The Damned

(High Roller Records - 2011)



 
 

 

Mark Shelton has been the leader of this band since 1977, and even after they disbanded in 1990 he choose to reestablish the band again in 2001 with a new formation. 15 albums in all those years gives a lot of experience, but this experience has not done them any good in their later years. Last two records were concept records, and now they come with a regular album containing 8 songs, and these songs are best dealt with if you get them out of your system as quickly as you can. Jackhammer is a dark and slow song, but endlessly boring. Into The Maelstrom is disappointing as there are no finesses at all, slow and boring, almost something a school band could come up with, but here we are talking about Manilla Road with their experience of 16 albums. The title track Playground Of The Damned is boring like the other stuff gathered here. Grindhouse is a horror song that could be used in a performance at a local circus, really bad. Brethren Of The Hammer gets a little more heavy, but not enough at all to give this album some dignity. Shame from such a glorious band to make an album so full of boring songs.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Out Of The Abyss

(Leviathan Records - 1988)



 
 

 

Well, the last and heaviest Manilla Road album from the 80's. On a new label Leviathan. This album is Manilla Road's fastest album, really bordering on speed metal. Listen to Whitechappel as example.Do not be fooled the epic majesty is here in fine form on Rites Of Blood vintage Manilla Road. Check out the killer riff on the title cut.get caught up in The Realm Of The Old Ones. Metal mayhem is raging on Midnight Meat Train a take on - I think - a Clive Barker tale? Anyway, brilliant songwriting in the end of that one guess who turns out to be the subway butcher?? This albums successfully captures all the great elements of the band harkening in a place or two to Invasion and Mystification. All a little different, but still very memorable and a great way to end the greatest metal decade ever.
 
 










Eamon O'Connor


  
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Mystification

(Black Dragon - 1987)



 
 

 

What a great year for metal 1987 was, classic albums by Grim Reaper, Helloween, Fifth Angel, Malice, Anthrax and did I mention Manilla Road???? This album sees them intensefying things more and the fast opener Up From The Crypt bordering on thrash. Again a band with intelligence and grace tales are told and references to Edgar Allen Poe are here in songs like Masque Of Red Death a haunting yet hammering metal tune, if there was ever one. Dragon Star closes this record well. The production here is worse than Open The Gates, but slightly better than Crystal Logic. As always there are devastating drums and wicked riffage and solo ing. This record never loses steam and again is a mandatory purchase!
 
 










Eamon O'Connor


  
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The Deluge

(Black Dragon - 1986)



 
 

 

The Deluge is slightly more heavy than Crystal Logic sees the band craft another gem. The beautiful art on the album is just a tease of the magic to follow. Take the epic title cut an 8.18 min. Shadows In The Black starts of moody then goes into a wicked mid-paced banger. Divine Victim defines the term galloping metal and is a choppy one that slays. Well put together and brilliantly played. The drumming of Randy 'thrasher fox' is dead on, this album for the time it was released is filled with haunting and heavy textures sure to please all fans of good heavy metal.
 
 










Eamon O'Connor


  
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Open The Gates

(Black Dragon - 1984)



 
 

 

I remember how excited I was when I first got this double LP. Again lovely artwork! Manilla Road in true epic glory here. Crushing drums and hellish axe work are the highlights here. I will say the warrior bard's voice goes off a little in Metalstorm, but the whiplashing that you get will more than make up for it. Astronomica is a gems as is Ninth Wave. Again well textured and true metal mastery. The title track is another slayer and head banging asurance. If you like Manilla Road I am sure you own this gem, if not well then get up and order this fucker now!!!!!
 
 










Eamon O'Connor


  
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Crystal Logic

(Hellion Records - 1983/2000)



 
 

 

Ah yes, my favourite Manilla Road album. Classic true / epic metal at it's best. Branded 'hippie metal' by their detractors, I say bullshit to that tag. Take the opener Necropolis, it's a driving metal monster about the land of the dead, behold the intelligence and storytelling wit of The Riddle Master - a mid tempo crusher. One of the all time greatest metal tunes is hre the mighty Veils Of Negative Existence -  this track will suck you in its epic majesty. Manilla Road are neither ultra heavy, nor technical, but are just pure metal magicians. The production here is not the best, but that fact only adds to the mythic sense this album weaves as you listen to it and trust me you will be listening to it again and again.
 
 










Eamon O'Connor


  
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