Thank God We 've Found The Road!
Anton Rojkov | Canada | 11/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having listened to "Necropolis" about 5 years ago I wondered: What is that? This is a weird sound, vocals are too soft for metal, but hell, it captures you so well and doesn't let go! Now listening to it again and again, with the rest of the songs I am thankful to fate that I found the Road. Because it is very inspiring catchy music that is written with a soul. The music is a bit light on this record (not like on Courts of Chaos, for example) but it grabs and doesn't let go! Shelton's voice is calling into a battle and you just can't say no! Somewhat dark atmosphere of the songs together with a optimistic lyrical message, fighting evil forces for the glory of the Gods of light is a great opposition to bands like Slayer and Venom and it is a great opportunity to listen to it, for it is quite rare in metal. Even though "Feeling Free Again" is a typical rock'n'roll track, more suiting bands like Motorhead, most of the songs show the musicians are not just about swords and magic, but know mythology well and can make the poetry images brighter and more interesting to read about. Awesome!"
Classic American underground metal
Bloodbath_and_Beyond | usa | 01/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although the power metal genre would thrive (mainly in Europe) throughout the mid 90's and well into the 00's, the now currrent dominating subgenre of metal had it's origins. Mainly in cult underground bands like Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Helloween, and of course Rainbow and solo Dio. This group out of Kansas, has been operating independenly since the late 70s, from Kansas of all places, their 1979 debut Invasion was a bizarre yet rocking mix of prog/space-rock and funky hard rockers, and their second effort aply titled Metal, was an interesting album too. However the band was apparently building on their sound and on 1983's Crystal Logic, the sound had... crystalized. Right from opener Necropolis along with MR staples like the chugging title track, The Ram, Riddle Master, and Feeling Free Again, this is the sorcery genre in its first stages. Fans of what would be dubbed 'epic metal' would find the roots of their beloved genre here. Although the power metal genre typically now popularized by groups like Hammerfall, Iced Earth, Dragonforce etc. usually consist of very fast highly polished and metallic, keyboard and/or orchestrated 10 minute songs, chock full of busy and amazing guitar and vocal work, MR has more in common musically with the British hard rock bands of the time (Saxon, Motorhead, early Maiden, Accept) of course with the obvious hint of adventurous atmospherics. The band would go on to make other albums like The Deluge and Open The Gates that would become the "classic" MR sound, this album was the first to find it. As a metal album? It's a classic for sure, these guys have their fans. Guitarist/vocalist Mark Shelton has a warbling vocal style that might throw some off. His riffs though are amazing and he definetly deserves to be in there with the most iconic metal guitarists of the time. Musically, if you haven't heard them, yet this album is the best starting point along with The Deluge, if you can track them down. It's rough, raw and sludgy driving yet also epic and fantasy themed heavy metal. The true definition of the genre. Whether you're into American or British style metal, it won't matter. These guys are truely in a class of their own. No metal collection be without this one."
A true-metal classic!
T. Hardin | seaside,oregon | 11/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Manilla Road is one of those bands I'd read and heard about for years,but hadn't actually ever heard.Nowadays,with everything placed in tidy,neat little categories and sub-genres,I would lump this in with the "true metal" scene with bands like Lord Weird Slough Feg and Brocas Helm keeping the fires alive.I would say this reminds me of a little less-cheesy Manowar,Cirith Ungol,etc.Those are just points of reference though,as Manilla Road has their own distinct sound.I'll be looking for their other releases foer sure!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1