Praying Mantis has been in great shape for quite a while, if you ask me. At least since the excellent "Sanctuary" (2009), the band has maintained a fairly impressive consistency in their work, always presenting that pleasant mix of AOR, hard rock and NWOBHM that we have become accustomed to hearing from them. That said, the previous work, "Katharsis" (2022) had honestly left a little to be desired, at least for me - of course far from a disappointment (it is a very pleasant album overall), but perhaps a little too formulaic and serviceable for its own good. Although they have never been a band known for wild experimentation, this old carnivorous insect has always had dynamism as one of their main features, and I couldn't help but feeling that their previous CD played a bit too safe. Thus, it is very pleasant to realize that "Defiance" not only rescues the adventurous side of the group's music, but is also one of the most dynamic and enjoyable albums ever recorded by the band.
Anyone who follows Praying Mantis' fortunes sure know by now that, although they were never a proper heavy metal band, the Troy brothers have always known how to sound and look the part, ensuring that their music would always have a denser and more 'serious' atmosphere around it than most bands associated with AOR. This is evident from the opening track, "From the Start": far from being the explosion of euphoria that so many similar bands aim for, it's a song that captivates with its sharp melodies, rock-solid song structure and the excellent vocal performance of Jaycee Cuijpers. It's music written, played and sung by people who damn sure know how to do it - and it is such a level of performance, which will remain unchanged throughout the album, that will ultimately capture the listeners with the band's spell.
A brief but special spotlight must be directed towards the mike stand, by the way. Many people have already lend their vocal services for Praying Mantis, and I always kept the view that, at the end of the day, they could just have left Chris Troy singing, since the bassist is responsible for most of the (pretty good) vocals on the first albums and his delivery is actually more recognizable than most of the technically excellent (but ultimately unmemorable) singers that came afterwards. Well, Jaycee Cuijpers have sure changed my mind on that subject. On his fourth consecutive album with the Praying Mantis, the Danish singer has already done more than enough to be seen as the definitive holder of the flame - and the truth is that he sings so nicely, and in a way that fits so well with the power and spirit of his current band, that it has now become difficult to imagine Praying Mantis without him. A voice that, in essence, crowns a period of admirable stability in a band quite familiar with internal turbulence: since 2013, Chris (bass) and Tino Troy (guitar), augmented by Cuijpers, have enjoyed the good services of Andy Burgess (guitar) and Hans in't Zandt (drums), a line-up that can easily be ranked among the strongest the band ever had.
"Defiance" is an album that, without reinventing the wheel, still manages to create an air of freshness around it, never sounding like a nostalgic exercise or a simple collection of songs by a band without any greater purpose. From top-notch rockers like "Feeling Lucky" and "I Surrender," to poignant ballads like "Forever in My Heart" and the title track, and culminating in grandiose, epic moments like "One Heart" and "Let's See," what we have here is a band expertly employing their most important elements - the guitar duets, the captivating harmonic progressions, the meticulous vocal arrangements - to create some truly great, memorable music. And I'm glad to say they are relevant today, in 2024, without the need for us to project our minds into some kind of imaginary time machine. Even the instrumental "Nightswim" is very nice, far from being the mere filler that songs of the type usually turn out to be.
Let me say, by way of conclusion, that I feel the 'defiance' mentioned in the album's title does not refer to any life-challenging endeavor, but to something way more mundane, with which we can all identify: the daily challenge of holding firm to our principles and convictions. Completing 50 years of history, Praying Mantis continues to be successful in this battle. Long may it continue.
Jaycee Cuijpers (V), Tino Troy (G), Andy Burgess (G), Chris Troy (B), Hans in't Zandt (D).
01. From the Start (C.Troy) 4:26
02. Defiance (C.Troy) 4:06
03. Feelin' Lucky (Burgess, C.Troy) 3:45
04. I Surrender (R.Ballard) 3:40
05. Forever in My Heart (C.Troy, Cuijpers) 4:32
06. Never Can Say Goodbye (C.Troy) 4:10
07. One Heart (C.Troy) 4:31
08. Give it Up (Burgess, C.Troy) 3:35
09. Nightswim (T.Troy, Burgess) 3:42
10. Standing Tall (T.Troy) 5:18
11. Let's See (C.Troy) 4:56
Have you been involved with any of the bands mentioned here? Have any extra info and/or corrections? Please e-mail me (drequon@gmail.com) and let me know!
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