Classic Rock Bottom

This is the sixth album in the current series and all these albums have something in common yet NOBODY has figured it out. NOBODY.

This, along with something else, makes me very sad.

So, all I'm going to say is that this week's selection is the 1981 release from Praying Mantis, Time Tells No Lies. 

For the rest of this (and to reach my contractual number of words) you're going to read the bio and album review, courtesy of allmusic.com.

Bio:

England's Praying Mantis was one of the more melodic bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene. They combined a Thin Lizzy-style twin guitar approach with Def Leppard-like vocal harmonies, resulting in a sound not unlike later-day Rainbow. Originally named Junction, the band was formed in the late '70s by brothers Tino (vocals/guitar) and Chris Troy (bass/vocals), later adding Steve Carroll (guitar/vocals) and Dave Potts (drums). This lineup released a three-track demo EP, Captured City, in 1980, the title track of which also appeared in the highly influential Metal for Muthas compilation. The band were soon signed to BMG Europe, and proceeded to record their debut album, Time Tells No Lies, released in 1981. It achieved modest success (by NWOBHM standards), and first single "Cheated" charted respectfully, earning Praying Mantis a slot on the prestigious Reading Festival. Regrettably, the band became embroiled in business and legal disputes with their management soon after, resulting in a year-long hiatus from recording or touring, and completely stalling their career. After being dropped by BMG, Praying Mantis disbanded. Then, in a Spinal Tap-ish twist of fate, the band found themselves enjoying a renaissance in Japan, prompting a reformation (with ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul DiAnno) and tour in 1990, which yielded the Live at Last LP. Praying Mantis has continued to record throughout the '90s with a number of different vocalists, releasing Predator in Disguise (1991), A Cry for a New World (1994), and To the Power of Ten (1995). None of these have charted or come close to recapturing the glory of their debut, but the band continues to tour the U.K. Fall 2000 saw the release of Nowhere to Hide.

Review:

Praying Mantis' 1981 debut Time Tells No Lies is a minor New Wave of British Heavy Metal classic. The album showcases the band's effective use of harmony vocals and guitars, as well as their knack for catchy hooks and choruses. Nowhere is this more successful than on lead-off single "Cheated," featuring a fantastic dual guitar harmony straight out of the Thin Lizzy handbook. "Running for Tomorrow" packs a Joe Lynn Turner-era Rainbow flavor while "Panic in the Streets" shows the band at their roughest NWOBHM moment.

Time Tells No Lies

1. Cheated
2. All Day And All Of The Night
3. Running For Tomorrow
4. Rich City Kids
5. Lovers To The Grave
6. Panic In The Streets
7. Beads Of Ebony
8. Flirting With Suicide
9. Children Of The Earth


Availability: New runs around $15 and included five bonus tracks (not included here).

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I didn't read this until just now.  I listened earlier today.  I was totally surprised by what I heard.  For some reason, I was expecting straight up prog.  But this was much more pop sounding to me.  I'm not a NWOBHM enthusiast, though I have warmed to it in the last couple of years.  When I think of NWOBHM, I think of Maiden.  But this didn't really make me think of Maiden.  Maybe it's because I don't know their music well enough.  And I listened to this twice today.

I listened to it twice because I liked it.  The more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

I think you're on the money with your red track.  Flirting With Suicide and Children of the Earth close this album with a tremendous bang!  The guitar solos on those two tracks alone are worth the price of admission.  I might be interested in picking this up.

Nice job this week.

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