-
-
-
If you can't find what you're looking for - or wish to refine your search to include only references to the key search term - try putting inverted commas around the search term e.g. "Steve Lukather" or "Black Star Riders"
For example if you enter Black Star Riders the results will include all instances of "Black" "Star" and "Riders". The search will also be slower.
-
Our star rating
***** Out of this world
**** Pretty damn fine
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan of the artist or genre
** Instant bargain bin fodder
* Ugly, just ugly
Switch site
-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
-
Latest Album Reviews
-
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: SOUTH OF SALEM – Thekla, Bristol, 27 March 2025
-
Gig review: JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE – The Underworld, Camden, March 13 2025
-
Gig review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Cadogan Hall, London, 20 March 2025
-
Gig review: THE DARKNESS – G Live, Guildford, 11 March 2025
-
Gig review: FISH – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 9 March 2025
-
Gig review: WILL WILDE- 100 Club, London, 4 March 2025
-
-
Featured Album Reviews
-
Album review: LEVARA – s/t
-
Album review: KXM – KXM (featuring George Lynch,Dug Pinnick,Ray Luzier)
-
Album review: THEA GILMORE – The Counterweight
-
Album review: SANDRA BOUZA – Falling Away From Me
-
Album review: THE HONEYRUNNERS – Everything Is On Fire
-
Album review: LAST FLIGHT TO PLUTO – A Drop In The Ocean
-
-
Features
-
Interviews
-
Single & EP Reviews
-
DVD Reviews
-
Book Reviews
-
News
-
Quick Categories
Categories (All)
Tag Archives: Praying Mantis
Album review: NO FAVORS – The Eleventh Hour

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 22.11.24] Can’t not give No Favors a listen as they hail from my home town of Stoke-on-Trent! No Favors were formed in the ’80s, which included rhythm guitarist Carl Ogden, who remained a constant … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album review, Carl Ogden, DEMON, hard rock, Magnum, melodic hard rock, No Favours, Praying Mantis, Pride & Joy Music, rock, The Eleventh Hour
|
Leave a comment
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 … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Frontiers, Japan, Journey, melodic hard rock, metal, Pony Canyon, Praying Mantis, review, Survivor, Troy Brothers
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: PRAYING MANTIS – Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, 7 October 2021

A mere 581 days since I last attended an indoor concert – Jon Boden in Didcot back in March 2020. Since then live music as we know has been decimated with the fall out from the pandemic, however, you can’t … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged 7 October 2021, Arlington Arts Centre, classic rock, Deep Purple, gig, hard rock, Led Zep, melodic hard rock, NWOBHM, NWOCR, Praying Mantis, review, Snelsmore, Vambo
|
Leave a comment
Album review: VARIOUS – NWOBHM Thunder 1978-86

Cherry Red Records [Release date 31.07.20] (3 CD set) 1978 to 1986. Those 9 years were the Golden Age of NWOBHM. They were the years that spanned the birth, working life and eventual demise of a significant sub genre in … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
|
Tagged album, Blitzkreig, Cherry Red Records, compilation, DEMON, GIRLSCHOOL, metal, NWOBHM Thunder 1978-86, Praying Mantis, RAVEN, review, rock, Saxon, trad metal, Tygers Of Pan Tang, various artists, Venom
|
Leave a comment
Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Keep It Alive

Frontiers [Release date 06.12.19] Formed in London in the mid 70s by the Troy brothers Tino (guitar) and Chris (bass), Praying Mantis were associated with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, but have always been at the more melodic … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Chris Troy, classic rock, Frontiers, Keep It Alive, melodic, melodic rock, Praying Mantis, review, Tino Troy
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 2 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 8 November 2019

First band on the mainstage were Highway To Hell winners, TWISTER. The Durham band had been popular winners and the early start saw many seeking out breakfast and a brew to join the band in the main arena. The set-up … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged 8th November 2019, Beth Blade, Brian Downey Live And Dangerous, Buckcherry, Chic, Dante Gizzi, gig, Great Yarmouth, Gun, Hard Rock Hell, HRH, HRH Awards, Johnny Davies, Jools Gizzi, Kikamora, live, metal, Praying Mantis, review, rock, Those Damn Crows, Toby Jepson, Twister, Vauxhall Holiday Park, Wayward Sons, White Raven Down
|
Leave a comment
Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Gravity

Frontiers [Release date 11.05.18] Originally part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, albeit at the more melodic almost AOR end of the spectrum, Praying Mantis are still going strong. This new album is their 10th studio outing, 11 if you include … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, AOR, Chris Troy, Friontiers, GRAVITY, melodic, melodic rock, NWOBHM, Praying Mantis, review, Rodney Matthews, Tino Troy
|
Leave a comment
Album review: LIONHEART – Second Nature

AOR Heaven [25.08.17] Blimey, it has been a few years since Lionheart last released an album – over thirty to be precise! Their sole studio album to date was 1984′s ‘Hot Tonight’, rightly revered among many rock fans. They split-up in 1986 with Dennis … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Dennis Stratton, Iron Maiden, Lee Small, Lionheart, melodic, Praying Mantis, review, rock, Second Nature, Steve Mann
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: WINTERSTORM FESTIVAL – Concert Hall, Troon, 25/26 November 2016

The town of Troon is better known for its championship links golf course rather than as a hub for all things rock, but one man with a vision, Iain McCaig, is set to change all that. Going by the old … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged 25-26 November 2016, Bloodlines, Concrete Kingdom, Dio, FM, gig, Inglorious, Last In Line, Mason Hill, metal, Praying Mantis, review, Ricky Warwick, rock, Steve Overland, The Amorettes, The Hyena Kill, The King Lot, Tom Russell, Toseland, Troon, Troon concert hall, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Vega, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell, Winterstorm Festival
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: Y & T – Islington Academy, London, 28 October 2016

For the last decade, an extensive Y & T tour has been just as much a feature of autumn as leaves falling and the nights getting shorter. The Californians seem to have a love affair with the UK and judging … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged Aaron Leigh, Dave Meniketti, gig, John Nymann, Praying Mantis, review, Y & T, Y and T
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: ROCK GODDESS/Praying Mantis/Desolation Angels – Islington O2 Academy, London, 3 December 2015

A night of NWOBHM resurrections. First up Desolation Angels. The band ambled on stage to a room of about 50 souls and did a bit of instrument fiddling over David Bowie’s ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ blasting from the PA. Not a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged Desolation Angels, gig, live, O2 Academy Islington, Praying Mantis, review, Rock Goddess
|
Leave a comment
Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Legacy

Frontiers Records [Release date 21.08.15] Praying Mantis were always lumped in with the NWOBHM but they were always more of a melodic rock band and “Legacy”, their 10th if you include the one issued under the Stratus banner in 1984, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Andy Burgess, Chris Troy, classic rock, Frontiers, Hans in ‘t Zandt, John Cuijpers, Legacy, Praying Mantis, review, Tino Troy
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL, 1-4 August 2013

Haggis Farm Polo Club, Cambridgeshire Back in 2004 the first Rockingbeerfest three day festival took place under the blackened skies and torrential rain, quite contrastingly here we are today celebrating the 10th anniversary in 31degree bright sunshine. Under the leadership … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
|
Tagged 1-4 August 2013, Bonafide, Cambridge Rock Festival, Caravan, Deborah Bonham, festival, gig, Hazel O'Connor, Magnum, Praying Mantis, Quireboys, review, rock, The Animals
|
Leave a comment
DENIM & LEATHER NWOBHM FESTIVAL 2012
DENIM & LEATHER NWOBHM FESTIVAL 2012 Praying Mantis, Weapon, Stampede, Gaskin plus special guests Agincourt Praying Mantis, Weapon, Stampede, Gaskin plus special guests Agincourt will rock this year’s inaugural Denim & Leather NWOBHM Festival at Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms on Saturday September 29th. And as … Continue reading →
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
|
Tagged Agincourt, DENIM & LEATHER NWOBHM FESTIVAL 2012, Gaskin, Praying Mantis, Stampede, Weapon
|
Leave a comment
PRAYING MANTIS – Time Tells – No Lies
Time Tells – No Lies 4.5/5 (Rock Candy) Metalmorphosis – 30th Anniversary Album (Japan Edition) 4.5/5 http://www.praying-mantis.com/ NWoBHM legends Praying Mantis, led by brothers guitarist Tino and bassist Chris Troy, have always played at the melodic end of hard rock, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged Praying Mantis, Rock Candy
|
Leave a comment