A lot of solid music is hitting the streets these days but it's not often a new album really stands out.
To alter that scenario
Manticora has made up something quite remarkable and magnetic while keeping the classic Power Metal expression intact.
A lot of this concept albums success comes from striking atmospheres, to get an idea of the dark shrouded world of The Black Circus here's a realistic scenario in writing:
Waking up rather weary I decided for a careful walk along the stony steeps leading into the circus tent, dark skies slowly crawls through the night sky, a mild but anxious wind makes the grey canvas flicker as I slowly enter.as my eyes slowly adjust to the dark I detect the shadow of a child further down. a strange sense of spirituality roams within this place.
This kind of story telling is in fact central for the album now that the lyrics represents different letters, some sung, some spoken. A few passages comes out a bit weird but all in all think I that this interesting approach works out well.
On the one hand we deal with a person's personal struggle with sanity and finding his place in life, at the same time we slowly enter the world of a travelling circus, a special and quite magical one indeed.
Now that this is a horror story of some kind
King Diamond naturally comes to mind, first of all that's not a bad thing, secondly this is highly unique.
To get another idea of the albums cool mystic mood check out the brilliant cover artwork, and now on to the music.
The Black Circus starts the show with a blistering tempo and wicked double bass drumming, the slightly progressive rhythm structures makes it even more exciting and luckily this direction is followed through the record.
The key moods are some of my favourite moments on the album... odd and highly compelling, take
Intueric II with its creepy acoustic guitar combination or
Intueric IV with it's goose bum effect.
Hymn like leads, monster tight riffs, vivid guitar solo work and a detailed drum approach helps make
Forever Carousel no less than an amazing track. Intense and melodic with an effusive chorus.
The mix of male/female vocals in the epic and again slightly progressive
Wisdom takes the album to a new level, showing strong song writing abilities with an ever present tight bass support.
I won't describe more songs in detail but just sum up by concluding that they must be felt to really comprehend, as the gloomy
Freakshow that has a dark spellbinding aura.
Some tracks have moments that are more intriguing than others, but as a whole this thing comes nicely together. The band manages to create a groovy and vibrant teamwork, nicely held up by a highly bombastic production.
I went by their official homepage and found out that we share close to the same idols in music, lots of great classic stuff and when thinking about it I hear some of that inspiration from time to time.positively they have had the ability to transform it into something very much their own.
Eagerly looking forward to part 2 but now I'm just enjoying the show.
Written by
Tommy Thursday, December 7, 2006
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 7.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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