Although part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, since their short lived existence in the early 80s only releasing two albums, and their reactivation (yet inconsistent activity since) in 1991, Praying Mantis owe much more to AOR and prog rock than anything metal sonically. Lone original members from the first album “Time Tells No Lies”, brothers Tino (guitar, vocals, keyboard) and Chris Troy on bass, are joined by Andy Burgess on second guitar, singer Jaycee Cuijpers, and drummer Hans in t Zandt.

Praying Mantis 2015 is everything a Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Giuffria, Magnum, Toto, Asia, to contemporaries Place Vendome or Sunstorm fan would want in the new millennium. Big bright toned keyboards, pleasing smooth vocals, twin melodic guitar leads and a pulsating bass/drum bottom end on opener ‘Fight For Your Honor’ scream arena rock. ‘The One’ really could be a lost Survivor hit from the 80s, excellent grade A melodic rock. Those passages between the verses and chorus are irresistible. The punchy bass and drums are often the grounding base element to many tunes and a consistent foot tapping tempo, see ‘Believable’ and ‘Tokyo’. ‘Better Man’ pulls in a more metal edged guitar, as does the harder energy to ‘The Runner’ with those Thin Lizzyish leads, chorus and harmonies. Working outside the AOR world, a prog-framework in ‘Against The World’ incorporates interplay between guitars and keys, composition changes is a solid display of balance between musicality and songwriting. And with ‘Second Time Around’ I’m getting a sense of European Power Metal influence from the harmony guitar leads, quickened drums/ bass line.

All around, eleven solid tunes. One album to be in my Top 10 Albums of the Year.