26 Nov 2011 Praying Mantis - Barcelona

Praying Mantis ... finally!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_jcNQi1tzo

Yes, true, despite a whole year waiting, finally on Saturday 26N in Barcelona, true NWOBHM Legends were delivering a great show. Raven and Praying Mantis were headliners. Before, Bourbon Society, Wild and Tysondog were opening the festival METALCOVA IV.
Around 23:00 h local time, Praying Mantis went on scene and checking sound. After 20 minutes which seemed eternal, finally thumbs up from Tino and drummer,
From song one it was clear that singer Mike Freeland and Troy Brothers wanted to give a great gig and they were enjoying and make the people enjoying the show. Even there were some words in spanish and some in catalan from Tino. All the songs were introduced with a 30 second presentation, and to all songs the thanked the answer from the audience. (PS: That reminds me my DIO concert in 98, Ronnie RIP.)
In the first songs Tino wasnt happy with the sound of his guitar, and I catched him looking to Andy in the beginning of Cant see the Angels and his surprise for the guitar effect. Tino tried eye-contacting the table, and asking for another cable in order to improve the sound. It was clear he wanted to enjoy but to play as good as possible, so I'd liked these moments so much.
Through all the concert they were making the people enjoy the gig. That felt really nice & great.
Another thing which I saw it was interesting, there were slight changes in all the songs except the new ones from Sanctuary and Time slipping away.
Short but intense, It was a never to forget concert.
Moments before the show, Chris and Tino went to see the fans who were there, and shook hands, have some little talk and made some photos and signed some records. It all felt great.

Praying Mantis - 26th November 2011 - Set List: Children of the earth, Panic in the streets, Cant see the angels, Turn the tide, Restless heart, Time slipping away, Dream on, Dont be afraid of the dark, Running for tomorrow, Turn the tables. Encore: Captured City

If I had one word to describe, it would be AWESOME! ... and it is true, Time tells no lies :-)



















A big thanks to METALCOVA. This means not only big promotors bring the best bands. Great job guys, you're the best!
A big thanks to Mantis for coming. Maybe we were only few and such a little audience, but we loved you since the beginning.
A big thanks to all the audience, people was nice and friendly. I enjoyed it so much.

5 solos

Steve Harris - Reflections
Brian Tatler - In the heat of the night
Rob Bendelow - Ready to fly
Michael Schenker - Doctor Doctor
Neal Schon - Who's cryin' now

Steve Harris

With great sadness, Steve Harris just passed away ...

I'll remember him for his perennial solo in Reflections... Steve, RIP

Eclipse

After the great comeback with Revelation (after the great deception with Generations), we get this new one from Journey which i was eagerly hoping for... and... really got deceived... so what i haver heard, i am thinking in NOT buying it... :-(
I heard a lot of great reviews...
Well this is not what I expect from a record teaming Schon-Cain. They are about to make greater things. Songs with punch, heartbreaking... well... they made escape, frontiers, raised on radio, arrival, trial by fire, beyond the thunder and even revelation... so that is what I am expecting from them... maybe is it too much asking?

This is gonna hurt

After several listenings I have no doubt, this will be (with Journey does not eclipse it) the record of the year. Yes, it feels, it sounds to me a Heroin II, so this is really great news. The sticky melody (& lyrics) from the title, the single lies of the beautiful people (kind of reminding the last single Life is beautiful)... the power of Live forever, the Sure feels right mid tempo, and, above all this heartbreaking Skin touching the soul deep inside... The more i listen to the songs the more I like them and i appreciate even more... A true winner

10/10 classic status

Over the edge

Yeah I got the music cranking, Japanese TV
My head is full of jasmine smoke
I can hardly breathe
Turquoise dragons slip and slide
Sliding down my back
I'm standing on this cold, thin ice
And I'm about to crack

I'm over
I'm over
Over the edge

Seven candles burn so bright
The full moon behind a veil
The ocean crashing in my head
Outside the sirens wail
Jet black is my dirty hair
Jet black my heart and car
My lips are red, my skin snow white
My face is battle scarred

I no longer feel the pain
No longer feel my love
Just the air conditioner
And a help from the Lord above
Speeding up pieces of my broken heart
My eyes work like radar
I'm lyin' in the afterglow
How'd I ever get this far

I'm over
I'm over
Over the edge

Return of the Warlord

now the time has come when all is said and done
we're back together on the road it's time to fly
no more time to wait you know it feels so great
wearin leather on a horse of steel i ride
i ain't waitin to get old i'm runnin hot i'm never cold
kiss my ass if you don't like me i don't care
i got my wheels got my friends we're on the road again
we're all crazy gonna ride until we die

time to burn you losers better learn
no one controls our goddamn lifes
we'll do just what we feel riding horses made of steel
we're here to burn up the night

losers try to put us down it's just another day
i got no money or big house just got life
i don't like to save it's more fun to spend
if you like metal you're my friend
and that bike out in the yard well that's my wife
don't try to understand me my family never will
had to punch my teacher out now he's chilled
i might stay in school or die in prision
either way it's my decision one more beer and heavy metal
and i'm just fine

time to burn you losers better learn
no one controls our goddamn lifes
we'll do just what we feel riding horses made of steel
we're here to burn up the night

we are the undefeated we're not living in the past
we're here tonight to kick some goddamn ass
feel the power of the wheel lets drink to riding steel
livin hard and ridin fast

time to burn you losers better learn
no one controls our goddamn life
we'll do just what we feel riding horses made of steel
we're here to burn up the night

RIP Drums of Steel Scott

I ain't crying for the moon

Tried to believe in love
Tried to believe in something
It's tearing me all apart
No use to keep pretending
A lone wolf, keeps straying
Can't find a heart to live in
Do I believe in love?
I'm lying, I can't give up

Anybody knowing what to do
Anybody feels the way I do
The end is getting closer far too soon
I ain't crying for the moon

I'm playing the king of hearts
Trying to top my scoring
Got no queen in my deck of cards
Wanna stop my dice from rolling
Obsession? Depression?
My life, a lonely mission
A king without a crown?
Who's the fool, behind this frown?

Anybody knowing what to do
Anybody feels the way I do
The end is getting closer far too soon
Keeping faith in you
Anybody knowing what to do
Looking for the certain kind of you
The end is getting closer far too soon
I ain't crying for the moon

Anybody knowing what to do
Anybody feels the way I do
The end is getting closer far too soon
Keeping faith in you
Anybody knowing what to do
Looking for the certain kind of you
The end is getting closer far too soon
I ain't crying for the moon

An almost perfect first part of the song...

Parisienne Walkways

Another 'blue' news, the guitar player from perennial Parisienne Walkways passed away...

I remember Paris in 49
The Champs Elysee, San Michelle
an old Beauolais wine.
And I recall that you were mine
In those Parisienne days

Looking back at the photographs.
Those summerdays spent outside corner cafes.
Oh, I could write you paragraphs,
About my old Parisienne days.

Reflections

tonight i walk the street alone
disillusioned and confused
you took away my freedom
you took away the truth

And so as slowly wonder
reflecting on my past
too many memories
and now the pain it only lays

but i never meant to hurt you girl
and you never meant to hurt me
but we broke each other's hearts
and that's the way it's meant to be
and this emptiness inside me
is more than i can bare
i cry myself to sleep each night
just cause i know that you're not there

noone could ever change your place
cause everywhere i look i see your face
there are reflections
fading away to the night

these shadows hide the tears' drops
since so many nights did i cry
oh we're running from the memories
until there's nowhere left to hide

but i never meant to hurt you girl
you mever meant to hurt me
but we broke each other's hearts
and that's the way it's meant to be

noone could ever change your place
cause everywhere i look i see your face
there are reflections
fading away to the night

i see reflections
fading away to the night


The lyrics are good, melody is great, and the solo is stunning ... absolutely brilliant

and the records of the Decade are...

1) Praying Mantis - Sanctuary
2) Sixx AM - The heroin diaries

3) Journey - Arrival
4) Scorpions - Unbreakable
4) Magnum - Princess Alice & the Broken Arrow

6) Praying Mantis - Nowhere to Run
7) Tony O'Hora - Escape From The Sun
8) Alice Cooper - Brutal Planet
9) Megadeth - The system has failed
10) Bruce Turgon - Outside Looking In
10) Axel Rudi Pell - Mystica

Some songs:

Sanctuary, Girl of golden eyes,
Kiss me softly, through my eyes, Moonking
Naked, Broken soul, Pick up the bones, Back in the day, These tears must fall, Mystica