PRAYING MANTIS: Time Tells No Lies (MELODIC HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Few bands managed to emerge from the maelstrom of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and some of them only had a short-lived success. Apart from Iron Maiden and Saxon, who are the exceptions, the other bands disappeared or only survived. Praying Mantis is one of those dinosaurs on the brink of extinction. And yet, their first album "Time Tells No Lies" made a strong impression in 1981 and remains today one of the reference pieces of the style.

Formed in 1975, Praying Mantis was noticed as early as 1979 when Iron Maiden gave them the opportunity to open one of their shows in London and their single 'Captures City' had the honor to be included on the famous compilation "Methal For Muthas". Two years later, "Time Tells No Lies" hits the stores with a superb cover art by Rodney Matthews. The visual was at the time essential, the first catch of the consumer being based on this characteristic.

Little jewel of melodic hard rock, the album calibrated 80's is a musical happiness on its nine titles, even if we can regret that 'Captured City' did not replace the Kings' cover 'All Day & All The Night' which is, certainly of quality, but all in all anecdotal even incongruous here. But it doesn't matter, the twins guitars give it their all, the melodies are catchy and the compositions impress by their maturity, their structured developments and their cavalcades.

Listening to this album, one still wonders today how Praying Mantis could have remained on the side of the road of notoriety. One of the best English melodic hard rock albums of all time, "Time Tells No Lies" is simply unmissable! - Official website

PRAYING MANTIS

TIME TELLS NO LIES

ARISTA

MELODIC HARD ROCK