Single review: MANIMAL – Armageddon and The Inevitable End

AFM Records [Release date 06.08.21]

‘Armageddon‘ is the title track and third “single” release from forthcoming new album from Sweden’s Manimal.

As the song title suggests, this video version has lots of footage of global warfare, nuclear of course, clearly depicting missiles in flight, cities in ruins and a planet turned to wasteland.… lyrically it doesn’t add much to the new millennium’s “we’re all doomed” narrative.

These all too familiar scenes are overshadowed by the band’s thumping Nintendocore axework. Songwriter/ Guitarist Henrik Stenroos’s technique, tone, invention and his iron fist/ velvet glove guitar aggression are the hallmarks of a world class power metal axeman. He stands out, but in fairness, it’s a tight, tight band. ***1/2

Surprisingly, considering it’s the title track, it’s overshadowed by ‘The Inevitable End‘, the previous single release. This is a memorably melodic slice of metal: dramatic, clever and subtle with the timing of the transitions. The sound separation in a densely packed production is awesome to behold. And when Samuel Nyman’s skyscraping vocal launches into the song’s lightning bolt of a chorus, the song takes flight. ****

Full album releases on 8 October 2021.

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)