Praying Mantis/Osaka,Japan 2012

PRAYING MANTIS came back to Japan in 2012 with Mike Freeland, bringing with them “METALMORPHOSIS,” which revived their early songs. Here is the finest original recording. This work is recorded at the “January 13, 2012: Osaka Shangri-La” performance. This is the finest audience recording. The finest album from the “SANCTUARY” era, “OSAKA 2009,” will also be released, but in 2012, Mike Freeland was at the front, and they only toured Japan twice, at Shibuya Club Quattro (January 12) and Osaka (this work). Not only in that situation, but the recording artist for this work is the same as “OSAKA 2009.” This is a masterpiece that was digitized directly from the original master of the familiar master “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper.” In fact, the sound of this work is very similar to that of its sister works. The extremely thick core has no sense of distance or even space, and the clear, delicate details and the wonderful separation are enormous. Even the enthusiasm of the audience feels farther away than the band’s performance, and it is a super-famous recording with an unusual direct feeling that makes you think it is a leaked sound board directly connected to the mix desk. Such a super close-contact sound is drawn as a full show that can be called a “live performance version of METALMORPHOSIS”. Since it is a simultaneous release of sisters, let’s organize the set while comparing it here. METALMORPHOSIS songs (10 songs) ・Praying Mantis: Children Of The Earth/Panic in the Streets/Running for Tomorrow (★)/Flirting with Suicide (★)/Lovers to the Grave (★) ・Predator in Disguise: Time Slipping Away (★)/Can’t See the Angels/Borderline (★) ・Others: Captured City/Praying Mantis (★) Others (6 songs) ・A Cry for the New World: Dream On (★)/Letting Go ・Sanctuary: Turn the Tide/Highway ・Others: Turn The Tables/Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark *Note: The “★” marks the songs that were not heard on the sister album “OSAKA 2009”. …And so it goes. The band is playing a large repertoire of METALMORPHOSIS, which is a revival of early songs, and all songs except “Beads Of Ebony” are featured. The sound of the famous songs from the legendary album “TIME TELLS NO LIES”, which is a NWOBHM legend, being played out in front of you is overwhelming. The theme song “Praying Mantis” makes you dizzy with deep emotion. It was a hot topic that you could hear a phantom song in METALMORPHOSIS, and you can enjoy the live performance. Moreover, this song is more suitable for a live performance with a good groove than the lyricism that is typical of Mantis. You can enjoy the original stage version with the superb sound of a soundboard. And the performance that spells out such a set is also wonderful. Perhaps because many of the songs were written for other people, Mike’s singing voice seems to have grown more in 2009, but the ensemble itself has evolved. The new member Gary McKenzie also fits well, and above all, the combination of Tino Troy and Andy Burgess is outstanding. METALMORPHOSIS was a special album celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album debut. This work is a two-disc set that is the live version. I would have liked it to be left officially, but the quality of this work is more than enough to play that role. An unrivaled sister work that serves as the “official substitute” of the Mike Freeland era. The sequel. A superb audience recording of the “January 13, 2012: Osaka Shangri-La” performance. A superb recording by the familiar master “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper”, the thick core dances beautifully and the sound with no sense of space is like a sound board directly connected to the mix table. The show will be a “live performance version of METALMORPHOSIS”, and 10 of the 11 songs on that re-recorded album will be played on a large scale. The precious song “Praying Mantis” that became a hot topic will also be performed. It is one of the “official substitutes” that allows you to enjoy the special show that should have been left on the official side with a superb sound. Live at Shangri-La, Osaka, Japan 13th January 2012 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc:1 (55:53) 1. Intro 2. Children of the Earth 3. Panic in the Streets 4. Time Slipping Away 5. Running for Tomorrow 6. Turn the Tide 7. Highway 8. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark 9. Can’t See the Angels 10. Praying Mantis Disc:2 (53:23) 1. Flirting with Suicide 2. Dream On 3. Borderline 4. Letting Go 5. Turn the Tables 6. Lovers to the Grave 7. Captured City Mike Freeland – Vocals Tino Troy – Guitar Andy Burgess – Guitar Chris Troy – Bass Gary Mackenzie – Drums