Customer Reviews

Time Tells No Lies

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember the New Wave of British Heavy Metal the first time around. I used to visit my local record store/head shop and the owner was this denim and leather clad rocker. I got turned on to all these obscure British bands, Maiden, Saxon, Samson, etc. However, probably the most melodic of the bunch was Praying Mantis. This is simply a GREAT album. The Troy brothers write really tuneful songs, with great harmonies and stellar guitar playing. The production is really nice as well. It's too bad this band never caught on in the States, but if you like music that sounds like Thin Lizzy, early Def Leppard, and maybe even a bit like early Bon Jovi, you'll definately dig Mantis. Key cuts, "Stay Alive in the City" "Lovers to the Grave" and a neat cover of the Kinks "All Day and All of the Night"

Praying Mantis is a little-known NWOBHM band, that is still around today. This one's their first album and it's a true classic. Three lead vocalists, brilliant harmonies, typical twin guitar sound, nice lyrics. This is a must-have for all melodic rock fans. Check out their latest albums as well. You're guaranteed not to be disappointed!

I heard this album in the early eighties and my tape got mangled. Looked for years for it. I was so happy to find it on Amazon. Their kind of an April Wine meets Night Ranger sounding band. Awesome guitar work and song writing. A must have to a collection.

My first taste of Praying Mantis, was this album. Love it! Not too hard, not too soft. Love the riffs.

I checked this out on youtube before buying, and the tunes are great, but at the steep price I paid I have not opened it yet. I may have to find a used one for less to put on my mp3 player. Shame these guys never made it big. The documentary dvd 'Iron Maiden and the NWOBHM' interviews them and it boiled down to Foreigner's manager approaching them to manage them-at a time when Foreigner was huge-and they declined in favor of their own managers who were thier mom and brother in law--or some such thing. Missed the boat, they did. Great music here. Must have for nwobhm fans! Skip naything by Tygers of Pan Tang, by the way.

Listening to this album has been a pleasant experience. With the sheer mass of rock crap made between 1973 and 1983, you'd forgive a music-lover for thinking this album to yet another foray into medium-tempo plod, characteristic of so many of the forgotten bands of the 70s and early 80s. My measure of a truly classic rock album comes from how much one actually has fun listening to the music. Not because we're supposed to, like Pink Floyd, but because we do. I really hope anyone reading this snaps this album up. These guys are such a huge 'coulda been.' Compare it to say, the Scorpians' 'Blackout' or even Foreigner's greatest hits! I'm not surprised their manager approached 'em. To such august company the album stands up pretty well, with some to spare, I think.
One of the greatest treasures of the British Heavy Metal awakening in the late 70s is listening to all these neat bands who really weren't that far away from each other in locale yet sound so different and unique. I think its okay to like this stuff even though it sounds a bit more 'pop' than Iron Maiden. Hey, each band has its own thing right? In listening to the music, you can sense a vision that's not as dark (hey, this ain't Emperor here!) but still manages to remain interesting. That's a considerable achievement.
Put it on and cook some dinner! The singers are great, the solos memorable, the licks catchy..and it is slightly dated in as far as no one makes straight-forward 'rock' anymore, but that's okay. This album sounds like its having fun and you should too. Buy!!

I remember waiting for this album to be reissued after I heard their concert set with Dianno and Stratton(Live At Last). When I finally gave it a spin,the sonic equivalent of the scent of mothballs overpowered me. These songs sounded much better live. With better production and musicianship,this album could have been a pleasureable listen,but as it stands, Time Tells No Lies sounds like a demo recorded in someone's basement. None of the songs really stand out. The brothers Troy should have left this in the attic where it belongs. Nice album cover,though. Get Live At Last for superior versions of the songs on here.