PRAYING MANTIS - The Journey Goes On

Frontiers Records

Posted: 9/14/03

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Melodic/Epic Rock

Released: 4/29/03

Label URL: www.frontiers.it

Artist URL: www.praying-mantis.com

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Every time Praying Mantis releases an album, you really don't know what you're going to get, primarily because they've never maintained a steady lead singer. While some stability has come from brothers Tino Troy (guitar/keyboards) and Chris Troy (bass/keyboards), who have both delivered vocals for the band, a host of others have also fronted the group - Steve Carroll, Paul Di'Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Doogie White (ex-Rainbow), Colin Peel, Gary Barden (ex-MSG), Tony O'Hora, and more. Musically, they've also altered their sound quite a bit since their New Wave Of British Heavy Metal beginnings with 1981's Time Tells No Lies.

The Journey Goes On is the band's second release on Frontiers Records and it features lead vocals from Tino and Troy, as well as guest appearances by John Sloman (ex-Uriah Heep, ex-Lone Star, ex-Gary Moore) on three songs and Doogie White on four songs. Having listened to the album a few times, I can say that I'm impressed with the quality of the musicianship in this version of the band. Everything has an smooth, melodic sound and production. The opener "Tonight" has an epic feel but a good deal of power, "Hold On For Love" is a hooky pop number, and the bonus track "Naked" has a memorable chorus, despite being way too long. Unfortunately, though, the other songs run into each other, and don't feature definitive hooks. The vocals are very bland, don't have a lot of dimension, and get smothered by the epic, longwinded nature of the material.  The group certainly makes use of harmony backing vocals, but this doesn't really do anything to fix the middle of the road range on the lead vocals. I was most surprised that Doogie White failed to excite me like he did with Rainbow.

The Bloody Truth: While the musicianship is tight and professional and will be attractive to those that are into epic, melodic sounding songs, the album clearly suffers from a short supply of diversity.