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GUEST
REVIEWS
OPEN
THE GATES
REVIEW
1:
Open the Gates - Manilla Road, Black Dragon Records 1985
"Open the Gates" is the fourth official release from the Wichita, Kansas
band Manilla Road. This album marks a couple of significant changes
for the band. The first is support from a label. The first three
albums were on the band's own label, Roadster Records. But "Open the
Gates" is being released through the French label Black Dragon
Records. The second is a change of personnel. Rick Fisher, the
drummer on the three previous albums, is replaced by Randy "Thrasher"
Foxe. Fisher, however, remains a contributor to the project as an
assistant producer.
The cover art work is amazing. My impression
of the imposing figure is a "negative" Elric. One can hope that the
figure gets a name and becomes something of a mascot for the band.
Inside, one can find a sword stuck in an anvil reminding one of
Arthurian legends. The sword seems similar to the one displayed on
the band's first release "Invasion" and has the Viking skull of
"Cystral Logic" on its pummel. Clearly, the band is setting up for some
repeated imaginary in future releases. Described below are the
songs from the album. Each song is reviewed for arrangements, vocals,
and lyrical content. Concluding the individual song reviews is an
overall impression of the album.
Metalstrom - I tend to
like progressive music. While the rhythm stays consistent throughout the
song (reminds me of something from the "Metal" album), the guitar
playing adds the spice that I like about progressive music. The vocals
are a bit varied (something else I like) with the verses having a clean,
but rough edge to them, and the choruses are clean. The lyrics contain a
number of references to Arthurian legend, Conan mythology, and a
quick glimpse of Greek mythology.
Open the Gates - This song is
worth of having the album named after it. The opening riff locks you
in for the duration of the song as Shelton and Park work seamlessly
together until Shelton starts running off on a tangent. The vocal
sets the tone for the imagery you get from the song. Literary name
dropping is rampant in the song, but you can sense its attitude. You can
picture yourself standing in a cross between drizzle and rain in your
leather jerkin (because you aren't important enough for chainmail)
hearing your captain rally you and your troops for the final siege. I'm
usually not one for shorter songs, but this one sets the
benchmark.
Astronomica - This is the closest to a ballad style
song that one will find on the album. Shelton conveys a lot of
emotion within the chorus. With all that said, my preference for
progression seeps in. The opening, closing, and chorus provides
enough variance, but something inside says the song is too long for the
set rhythm (which worked well for the shorter "Open the Gates"). Now if
I can only find the literary work that provided the inspiration for this
song, so I can appreciate the song a lot more.
Weavers of the
Web - For some reason, this song strikes me as rather bland. The
constant rhythm, without variation, is probably why I feel this
way. And > yet, I feel like I should be moved by Shelton's guitar
playing, but I'm not. The vocals fit the atmosphere of the song and
the lyrics. As for the lyrics, I also find them bland. I like the
idea of the title of the song, but I must be confusing myself when
dissecting the words. At first, it seems like the weavers are political
leaders, fabricating the lies within politics that only lead to
violence. Yet later, it seems the weaver is Christianity, bringing new
beliefs and the lack of tolerance it had for older faiths. In either
case, I don't see that the lyrics develop these thoughts enough.
Heavy Metal to the World - What can I say? It's a rock anthem. I'm not
particularly fond of music about music. I can turn on the radio to hear
music about sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but I like my music with>
sustenance.
Unfortunately, my dislike for the lyrics clouds any opinion
I could form about the arrangement and vocals (which I do think fits
the song). Clearly, this is my least favorite song on this
release.
Fires of Mars - While I raised this criticism with
"Weavers of the Web," the repetitive rhythm here does not disturb me
here. The reason for this might be the variance of the vocals. Or the
reason might be that the rhythm fits the theme of the lyrics. The Nordic
warriors are marching to what could be their final fight. The warriors
know some might not make it back, but a victory saves them all. So in
the constant rhythm of their marching (the rhythm of the song), they
prepare. What I do like is that within the song, Shelton peels off that
rhythm at an unexpected time to start his solo. He doesn't wait for the
verse to end, but begins early. I like variances like
that.
Road of Kings - For those looking to a story about that
grand highway in the Conan stories, you are going to be sadly
disappointed. What I surprises me is how light and uplifting this song
seems to be in comparison to the darker sounds of the rest of the
album. The vocals reflect this sound as the rough edge is
non-existent here. The lyrics themselves inspire hopeful patience.
Sometimes, that first verse hits too close to what I experience in a
day.
Hour of the Dragon - I like the pattern of this song. The
non-vocal parts have one rhythm sound; each filled with different guitar
playing. The verse parts have a different rhythm and the chorus is
yet another. But the flow in-between is not disruptive. The lyrics seem
to continue the story from "The Fires of Mars" (so I don't know why
"Hour" did not follow "Fires"). The warriors have reached their
destination, the battle has started, and the warriors see their
opportunity. Now is the time to strike.
While the album seems
short, "Open the Gates" does contain an EP to make it
complete. > Ninth Wave - Manilla Road never lets its fans down
without including some epic song on its releases. "The Ninth Wave" is
the one for "Open the Gates." Be sure to be up to speed on your
Arthurian legends and Nordic theology or the lyrics will go over your
head. The song itself is different from the rest of the album. It is
moodier, slower, and full of doom. The music sounds cleaner as well.
The drumming stands out here. The vocals are clean with a rare rough
edge during the "shouting" parts. My only concern is the lack of
variance in the rhythm. For a long song (over nine minutes), the rhythm
is constant with only a slight variance at the end. I think I tend
to overlook it here because of the lyrics, the way the lyrics are
sung, and the guitar jams sessions.
Witches' Brew - This
song is a classic. The song has all the elements that I like. A slow
melodic start with slow melodic vocals. A shift into a hard riff with
that rough edged vocals. A short melodic chorus with matching vocals.
The arrangement has that variance which keeps you entranced. And the
final jam keeps you on the edge. When it sounds like it going to die, it
just picks right back up. The lyrics have blatant Nordic
theology included, another bonus. Nothing like toasting the gods in
their honor. I just wish I could figure out the closing
words.
Overall, the album keeps your attention throughout its
playing. If the faithful do not rise to the sword with this album,
something is wrong with them. Additional notes: In 1990,
Black Dragon released "Open the Gates" on compact disc. In 2001,
Dragonheart records re-issued "Open the Gates" after the lapse of the
contract with Black Dragon. While it is said that the bass is mixed
higher on the 2001 release, I cannot hear the difference.
However, for those who did not get the Black Dragon release of "Live
Roadkill," live versions of "Open the Gates" and "Witches' Brew" are
included as bonus tracks (songs which I had considered the best on this
album).
REVIEW
2:
After Crystal Logic we have heard nothing of
Manilla Road for a long time. When Open The Gates came out it was the BIG event.
I was the first to get a copy and I remember putting it on the stereo of my
parents (funny how people who hate loud music often have the loudest
stereo-sets). My brother was there, my girlfriend, and a friend. We all loved
Manilla Road and were really excited and kept on saying to each other things
like: 'this is how it should be done!' and 'this is what metal is all about!'.
The excitement of that day is forever linked to this great album.
The
first thing I noticed when I bought this record was the new drummer. Now I am
pretty faithfull to my heroes and Rick Fisher was defenitely one of them. I
kinda feared this would not be 'my' Manilla Road anymore (off course, now I know
better). The first sounds of the introduction made my skin crawl, Yes!! It was
the sound with which Crystal Logic had ended. I felt a little better, I expected
the music to go on in the direction of Crystal Logic... But when the drums
kicked in I knew Manilla Road would never be the same again! This was much
heavier and more agressive than anything I have heard from The Road before and I
liked it! Metalstrom is one of those songs you will never forget and never get
tired of listening to. I don't know where They found Randy Foxe but he plays
like a maniac, the rolling double-bass, the razor-sharp snare-fills; I was blown
away by this guy.
If I had to choose my favorite MR album it would be
Open The Gates. I think the lyrics are just brilliant, in the spirit of Crystal
Logic but more agressive. I read somewhere Mark was ill at the time he recorded
the vocals but I just love his voice on this album. There is so much emotion and
some of the beautifull melody-lines really bring tears to my eyes. I also love
the production, the way the bass and guitar melt into one monstruous sound. Let
me tell you, I don't listen with my head, but with my heart. I don't care if the
production of a record is perfect or for the virtuosity of the musicians. I just
want to feel something when I listen to music and a so called bad production
often grabs me more than a smooth and clear sound.
I think Scott Park had
his day here, he is really dominating the sound and is playing impressively
well. But the greatest achievement of Open The Gates lies in the compositions
and in the guitars. I love their shorter songs but Manilla Road really makes
their best compositions in the longer, epic ones. Songs like Astronomica, Fires
Of Mars, Ninth Wave really stand out. The rhythm guitars on Open The Gates are
so much better than the previous albums. There is more agression, the sound is
deep and scary. But most of all the riffs and melodies on this album are very
special. The way the guitar parts in Astronomica and The Fires Of Mars are
constructed is sheer genius. In the Ninth wave Manilla Road shows how strong
they are in making a long composition work with just a few melodies. I also love
the unorthodox composition of Road Of Kings.
In the guitar-solo
department this is one of my all time favorite albums. The way Mark makes his
guitar growl, just creating noise by bending and stretching the strings has
stolen my heart forever. The solo's are great, every single one of them. In the
case of Weavers Of The Web the second solo even saves the song from being 'just'
an average Manilla Road song.
I can only think of one negative point on
this album: Heavy Metal To The World. Musically It sounds like Motorhead on
speed, which is not bad, but I feel the lyrical content of the song just does
not fit in with the rest of the album. Not that I don't like songs about Heavy
Metal; Dig Me No Grave on Courts Of Chaos really touches me emotionally. The
lyrics of Heavy Metal To The World are just not in the same spirit as the rest
of the album, I think.
The best song on Open The Gates, in my opinion, is
The Fires Of Mars. The composition is perfect, building the tension up and never
really releasing it. The lyrics are great, here is wisdom, emotion and
integrity, this is what Manilla Road has always meant to me. The last verses
bring tears to my eyes, beautifull work, Mark! If I had to vote for a best
guitar solo the one in Fires Of Mars stands a good chance, this solo really
complements the lyricall content and keeps the tension strong. This is one of
the best guitarsolos ever. And maybe MR's best song? I'm not sure, I think for
me that would be Friction In Mass.
All in all, Open The Gates is a timeless
classic and certainly one of my favorite albums of all time. Music of the
Gods.
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