Praying Mantis

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Nazione:Regno Unito
Attività:dal 1973

Line up

  • John "Jaycee" Cuijpers: vocals
  • Andy Burgess: guitars, backing vocals
  • Tino Troy: guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Chris Troy: bass, backing vocals
  • Hans In T' Zandt: drums, percussion, backing vocals
Originally formed in 1973 by the Troy brothers, Tino and Chris, Praying Mantis became one of The most influential bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). The band is also one of a very small number of bands from that era to have remained a going concern over the intervening years, and to still record and appear live regularly.
The band first came to prominence in the UK through the championing of grass-roots fans and rock DJs, most notably perhaps by Neal Kay at the semi-legendary Bandwagon Rock Disco in North-West London. Mantis appeared alongside Iron Maiden and other seminal NWOBHM bands on the landmark release, “Metal for Muthas”, in early 1980, and went on to tour extensively with Iron Maiden, doing over 100 shows with them in the early years.
The debut Praying Mantis album, “Time Tells No Lies” (Arista) was released in 1981 to critical acclaim, and it remains a significant NWOBHM recording. The band moved to Jet Records in early 1982, but this relationship was short-lived, and on-going problems with record labels and management led to the band all-but disappearing from public view. However, the Troy brothers continued playing, teaming up with Clive Burr (ex-Iron Maiden) in Escape, which swiftly became Stratus. The band’s only album, “Throwing Shapes” was released in 1985 to mixed reviews, and the band quietly folded soon after.
Following a short-lived reformation of most of the original line-up of Praying Mantis in 1987, the band went back on hiatus until offered the chance to play in Japan with ex-Iron Maiden members Paul Di’Anno and Dennis Stratton in 1990. This experience injected new life into the band, and also marked the beginning of a productive 15 year partnership with Dennis Stratton. The band’s second official studio album, “Predator in Disguise” was released in 1991, and the band have continued to write and release new material every two to three years ever since, with a shifting line-up which has featured the likes of Doogie White, Gary Barden, Bernie Shaw, Bruce Bisland, Mike Freeland, Gary Mackenzie and many other figures from the cream of Britain’s rock fraternity.

Following another major change in line-up (including the departure of Dennis Stratton), Praying Mantis signed with rock speciality label Frontiers in 2007 and recorded the album “Sanctuary”, which was released in 2009. The album, considered to be one of the finest of their career, has received consistently positive reviews from around the world and sets a very high standard for all future Mantis recordings.
To mark the 30th anniversary since the release of “Time Tells No Lies”, the band re-recorded 5 tracks from their early years as a commemorative EP, “Metalmorphosis”, in early 2011 – classic tracks given a contemporary make-over. The band couldn’t have anticipated the incredible response to this release – it’s been almost impossible to find anything other than rave reviews ! The past couple of years have also seen the band take to stages across Europe as well as visit Japan (where they still have a fanatically strong following).
Whether gigging in support of their latest releases, writing new material for the follow-up to “Sanctuary”, or re-visiting other songs from their extensive back-catalogue, the Troy brothers, along with guitarist Andy Burgess and newest recruits, John 'Jaycee' Cuijpers on vocals and Hans In T' Zandt on drums & vocals, remain committed to the blend of melody and power in their music that has become a trademark of the Praying Mantis sound, and, some three decades after forming, the band is still completely dedicated to entertaining a seemingly ever-growing army of fans across the globe.

Discografia

Copertina 7,5
Defiance (Frontiers Music / 2024) 

1. FROM THE START / 2. DEFIANCE / 3. FEELIN' LUCKY / 4. I SURRENDER / 5. FOREVER IN MY HEART / 6. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE / 7. ONE HEART / 8. GIVE IT UP / 9. NIGHTSWIM / 10. STANDING TALL ...

Copertina 7,5
Katharsis (Frontiers Music / 2022) 

1. CRY FOR THE NATIONS / 2. CLOSER TO HEAVEN / 3. AIN’T NO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IN HEAVEN / 4. NON OMNIS MORIAR / 5. LONG TIME COMING / 6. SACRIFICE / 7. WHEELS IN MOTION / 8. MASQUERADE ...

Copertina 7,5
Keep It Alive! (Frontiers Music / 2019) 

1. CAPTURED CITY / 2. PANIC IN THE STREETS / 3. HIGHWAY / 4. BELIEVABLE / 5. KEEP IT ALIVE / 6. MANTIS ANTHEM / 7. DREAM ON / 8. FIGHT FOR YOUR HONOUR / 9. TIME SLIPPING AWAY ...

Copertina 8
Gravity (Frontiers Music / 2018) 

1. KEEP IT ALIVE / 2. MANTIS ANTHEM / 3. TIME CAN HEAL / 4. 39 YEARS / 5. GRAVITY / 6. GHOSTS OF THE PAST / 7. DESTINY IN MOTION / 8. THE LAST SUMMER / 9. FOREIGN AFFAIR / 10. SHADOW OF LOVE ...

Copertina 8,5
Legacy (Frontiers Music / 2015) 

1. FIGHT FOR YOUR HONOUR / 2. THE ONE / 3. BELIEVABLE / 4. TOKYO / 5. BETTER MAN / 6. ALL I SEE / 7. EYES OF A CHILD / 8. THE RUNNER / 9. AGAINST THE WORLD / 10. FALLEN ANGEL / 11. SECOND TIME AROUND

Copertina

1. CHILDREN OF THE EARTH / 2. PRAYING MANTIS / 3. LOVERS TO THE GRAVE / 4. PANIC IN THE STREETS / 5. CAPTURED CITY

Copertina 7,5
Sanctuary (Frontiers / 2009) 

1. IN TIME / 2. RESTLESS HEART / 3. TEARS IN THE RAIN / 4. SO HIGH / 5. LONELY WAY HOME / 6. TOUCH THE RAINBOW / 7. THRESHOLD OF A DREAM / 8. PLAYING GOD / 9. HIGHWAY / 10. SANCTUARY

Copertina 7
The Best of (Frontiers / 2004) 

1. CHEATED (LIVE) / 2. CAN’T SEE THE ANGELS / 3. A CRY FOR THE NEW WORLD / 4. LETTING GO / 5. JOURNEYMAN / 6. ONLY THE CHILDREN CRY / 7. TURN THE TABLES / 8. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK ...

Copertina 7
The Journey Goes On (Frontiers / 2003) 

1. TONIGHT / 2. THE ESCAPE / 3. THE JOURNEY GOES ON / 4. SILENT WAR / 5. BEAST WITHIN / 6. HOLD ON FOR LOVE / 7. IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES / 8. LOST WORLD / 9. THE VOICE

Copertina
Nowhere To Hide (Pony Canyon / 2000) 

1. NOWHERE TO HIDE / 2. CRUEL WINTER / 3. THE CLOCKTOWER / 4. CAN'T STOP THE FIRE / 5. FUTURE OF THE WORLD / 6. WHENEVER I'M LOST / 7. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW / 8. RIVER OF HOPE / 9. NAKED / 10. S.O.S

Copertina
Forever In Time (Canyon Intl. / 1998) 

1. WASTED YEARS / 2. THE MESSIAH / 3. BEST YEARS / 4. BLOOD OF AN ANGEL / 5. VALLEY OF THE KINGS / 6. CHANGES / 7. MAN BEHIND THE MASK / 8. REMEMBER MY NAME / 9. THE DAY THE SUN TURNED COLD ...

Copertina
To The Power Of Ten (Canyon Intl. / 1995) 

1. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK / 2. BRING ON THE NIGHT / 3. BALL OF CONFUSION / 4. WELCOME TO MY HOLLYWOOD / 5. ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE / 6. TO THE POWER OF TEN / 7. LITTLE ANGEL / 8. VICTORY ...

Copertina
A Cry For The New World ( Canyon Intl. / 1993) 

1. RISE UP AGAIN / 2. A CRY FOR THE NEW WORLD / 3. A MOMENT IN LIFE / 4. LETTING GO / 5. ONE CHANCE / 6. DANGEROUS / 7. FIGHT TO BE FREE / 8. OPEN YOUR HEART / 9. DREAM ON / 10. JOURNEYMAN ...

Copertina
Only The Children Cry (Canyon Intl. / 1993) 

1. ONLY THE CHILDREN CRY / 2. WHO'S LIFE IS IT ANYWAY / 3. A MOMENT IN LIFE / 4. TURN THE TABLES

Copertina
Predator In Disguise (Canyon Intl. / 1991) 

1. CAN'T SEE THE ANGELS / 2. SHE'S HOT / 3. CAN'T WAIT FOREVER / 4. THIS TIME GIRL / 5. TIME SLIPPING AWAY / 6. LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS / 7. STILL WANT YOU / 8. THE HORN / 9. BATTLE ROYAL ...

Copertina
Live At Last (1990) 

1. PANIC IN THE STREETS / 2. DANGEROUS GAME / 3. CHILDREN OF THE EARTH / 4. LOVERS TO THE GRAVE / 5. FLIRTING WITH SUICIDE / 6. HOT TONIGHT / 7. RUNNING FOR TOMORROW / 8. WRATHCHILD ...

Copertina 8,5
Time Tells No Lies (Arista / 1981) 

1. CHEATED / 2. ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT / 3. RUNNING FOR TOMORROW / 4. RICH CITY KIDS / 5. LOVERS TO THE GRAVE / 6. PANIC IN THE STREETS / 7. BEADS OF EBONY / 8. FLIRTING WITH SUICIDE ...

Interviste

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Live report

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