MANTICORA — Safe (review)

MANTICORA — Safe album cover Album · 2010 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Safe" is the 7th full-length studio album by Danish power metal act Manticora. The album was released in October 2010 by Nightmare Records. Manticora has long been one of the most prolific Danish power metal acts on the scene consistently releasing quality power metal albums.

The music on "Safe" pretty much follow the usual formula for Manticora. That means power metal rooted in the neo-classical euro power metal tradition but with a much heavier and at times even thrashy edge to it compared to the more whimsical style many of their collegues practice. Lead vocalist Lars F. Larsen can hit some pretty high notes but predominantly sings in a hoarse vocal style (think a heavy metal version of Rod Stewart). But ultimately it´s the powerful and memorable riffs that make all the difference to me. While the music features keyboards this is predominatly guitar driven power metal. The tracks are generally structurally complex and it wouldn´t be wrong to call the music progressive power metal. Especially the 14:10 minutes long title track. The tracks are memorable with anthemic choruses but I never feel that Manticora fall into the cheese trap. Their music is simply too intricate, tasteful and challenging for that. At the same time it can kick some serious ass which the opening track "In The Abyss Of Desperation" is a good example of.

With a professional and powerful sound production, clever songwriting and excellent musicianship "Safe" is in my book one great power metal album that I can highly recommend to fans of the more progressive and heavy part of the power metal genre. I guess Lars F. Larsen hoarse voice might pose and issue to some, but personally I enjoy his vocal style and sound. A 3.5 - 4 star rating is fully deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Rot Stink Rip Death Metal
TOMBSTONER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Human Rosin Melodic Metalcore
HATE BREEDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Through The Hell Hardcore Punk
ENEMY 906
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lightmatter: Rebirth Deathcore
EARTHGAZER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Eye Of Horus (Lightmatter EP Pt. 2) Deathcore
EARTHGAZER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Agremorta - Adrocitas (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 4 days ago
Agremorta - Ploratus Umbra (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 4 days ago
Agremorta - Vertex Membrana (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 4 days ago
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The Temple Of Curved Space (Official Track Stream)
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
adg211288· 4 days ago
In Sulfur - The Gate (OFFICIAL VIDEO) 2022
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed