Praying Mantis is one of the last remaining NWOBHM bands to date. Accustomed to frequent changes of personnel, the band nevertheless kept the same team for seven years. The musical style proposed has also often known some variations over time. Indeed, although the identity base of the English has always been that of the melody, made of metal occasionally, hard rock often, and hard FM recently, it evolved on "Katharsis" which turns out to take an AOR inclination on most of the tracks.
This choice would not be unpleasant if the numerous mid-tempi scattered on this opus were carrying a sufficient energy. This pitfall handicaps the album, and unfortunately it is not the only one. Another drawback proves to be annoying and concerns the weakness of the melodies that punctuate the compositions. Too often, the tracks only get a distracted attention from the listener who finds their listening pleasant and feels at best a fleeting pleasure. This is the case with the ballad 'Sacrifice', as well as with 'Find Our Way Back Home' and its gospel choir that makes you cringe as it struggles to find its place.
Remain the worst and the best with on one side the mawkish 'Closer To Heaven' which wants to be tender and seductive, but whose melodies marked of mannerism border on the ridiculous, and on the other side the easy-going 'The Devil Never Changes' and its small very pleasant Phenomena side. To add a positive note, it is necessary to recognize that the characteristic twins guitars of the combo offer once again really pleasant moments on most of the titles. In this field, 'Don't Call Us Now', successful because more lively than the majority of the tracks, reaches in its final apexes worthy of Thin Lizzy.
"Katharsis" will not make us forget the disappointment that accompanied its elder brother. The Praying Mantis of 'Time Tells No Lies', or closer to us, of 'Sanctuary', is far away. Apart from two hits and two great tracks, this new production of the English is linear in its quality, which can be qualified as correct. So, apart from the die-hard fans who follow the band since its beginnings, this album should only please the unconditional fans of melodic hard music.