Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis

Frontiers [Release date: 28.02.22]

Only occasionally since their debut have Praying Mantis registered a decent sized blip on the radar of rock music in the UK.

It was in Japan – where NWOBHM labelling was less meaningful – that the band’s much more melodic rock form of metal found a sizeable audience.

Seven albums on Pony Canyon provided the momentum that propelled the band back into Europe, and a deal with Frontiers in 2006. Katharsis is the band’s fifth album on the label.

The Troy brothers’ new vocalist, Jaycee Cuijpers certainly has a welcome European everyman tone in his voice. It’s unfortunate though, that a few of the songs are more noticeable for their portentous lyrics than their songwriting strengths.

Opener, ‘Cry For The Nations’ overcomes that handicap by taking us on a rollicking melodic rock ride of twin guitar interplay and carefully calibrated riffs. It’s the scene setter.

In fact, throughout the album’s eleven tracks, everything is precisely measured. A light touch production gloss and some slick, metallised AOR-ish arrangements are applied to most tracks, but yet the album doesn’t sound like it was made to formula.

From the rock songs ‘Wheels In Motion’ and ‘Masquerade’, to the power ballads ‘Sacrifice’ and ‘Long Time Coming’, all are fresh sounding and indeed memorable.

On several standout songs, especially the Survivor/Journeyish ‘Closer To Heaven’ and the bluesy, stomping ‘Aint No Rock’n'Roll In Heaven’, the intensity in Cjuiper’s vocals pulls off the twin tricks of building the drama, while softening us up for a romantic interlude.

And further on, there’s a not unattractive attempt to philophise about a world in turmoil – ‘Find Our Way Back Home’, ‘Devil Never Changes’ – and how so much boils down to personal responsibility. Never a truer word. ***1/2

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)