Thursday, October 9, 2008

Manitou - Deadlock


MANITOU
Deadlock
Firebox
7.5/10




“Deadlock” finds Manitou taking up the mantle of bands like Judas Priest, Primal Fear and Dio as the band churns out eleven tracks of powerful metal. This Finnish five-piece has a distinctive air about them that sets the group apart from many of their more progressive contemporaries. You can tell that Manitou places might above stealth, as “Fools In Control” and “Black Burning Flame” focus on bombastic, arena-style thunder.

“Waste, Damnation” is among the more Priest-sounding cuts, with the guitars sounding much influenced by the Downing/Tipton team. A solid guitar tone and a balanced mix really bring out the might in the songwriting of Manitou. The group’s guitarists, Markus Vanhala and Antii Lauren really attack their instruments with zest, cranking out massive power chords and razor-sharp melodies effortlessly. There are lead breaks during most of the song’s bridges, and coupled with the stadium-type “Woahohoh” singing of Markku Pihlaja, you’ll note a bit of the majesty that Maiden is well-known for as well.

“Swallowing The Dark” rides in with a glistening lick, and Pihlaja’s voice is showcased on this highly melodic ballad. His restrained, tuneful singing on this particular cut is some of his best. Vanhala pulls off some smooth leads on this one, his fleet fingers drawing every ounce of melody from the strings of his guitar.
“By The Waves Of Stars” incorporates a strong tunefulness that will appeal to fans of Thunderstone, while the record’s closer, “The Black Meadow” incorporates a Queensryche-type appeal.

Overall, this effort is rock-solid and it would be a shame for this band to go overlooked. “Deadlock” provides exactly what fans of this style are looking for, so if you’ve an affinity for the sounds described above, this effort is well worth your consideration.


ERIN FOX © 2007 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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