DEAD END SOLUTION

The first album review of this Danish band.

I have been sold this band on the idea that this is a keyboard dominated prog metal band. Well, on this mini CD, they are not. This is pretty standard heavy metal in the vein of Iron Maiden, Gamma Ray and Helloween. The vocals are pretty bad. The music is not too bad. It is a mix of hard heavy metal and melodic ballads. The guitars are pretty good. Keyboards ? Not a single tone. Prog ? Well, there are some hints of some prog here. But the main theme is heavy metal. All the cliches are here. All of them. This band is recommended by PA, but not because of this mini CD, I guess. Well, we all have to start somewhere. This is their start and it did not move the earth for me.

2 stars

Debut EP by Danish heavy metal band Manticora is disappointment (if you're not a metalhead). Double-guitars driven classic heavy metal quartet are heavily influenced by Iron Maiden, but plays music which in all senses are far from their gods.

Vocals is still so-so, musical level is average, but the main problem is total lack of originality. The music varies between melodic and speedy, but are very faceless. In fact, absence of compositional abilities destroys not so bad musicianship. The only good news there are there are still 5 songs on this EP. So, it wouldn't take too much time just to finish listening and forget about them.

"Dead End Solution" is an EP release by Danish power metal act Manticora. The EP was independently released in October 1997. Manticora formed in 1996 under the Manticore monicker but changed name to the current one in 1997. "Dead End Solution" was originally released under the Manticore monicker, but it is seen as the first release by Manticora and subsequent re-issues of the EP have been under the Manticora monicker.

Stylistically the material on the 5 track, 24:38 minutes long EP is energetic, powerful, and melodic power/heavy metal with a predominantly mid-range lead vocalist in front. He can sing in higher pitches but honestly he sounds a little strained when he does. The instrumental part of the music is very well played, but the vocals aren't that great in this release. It has something to do with the vocal production too, so it's not necessarily because lead vocalist/guitarist Lars Larsen isn't a skilled singer, but on this release the vocals are definitely the weak link.

While "Dead End Solution" is a power metal release, it's in the harder edged end of the scale with influences from both traditional heavy metal and even occasionally thrash and speed metal. As mentioned above the vocal production isn't that well sounding, but other than that, "Dead End Solution" is a fairly well produced release. A little rough around the edges, but decent enough in terms of production values. Upon conclusion it's a promising start to a career, but I'm not blown away by what I hear on this EP. Still a 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating isn't all wrong.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)