Being born inside the NWOBHM movement but "going astray" in a more melodic sound and reaching the boundaries of AOR , PRAYING MANTIS are, undoubtedly, a rough gem of the "old school". "Metalmorphosis" is nothing more than a 30th anniversary EP( as the cover of the album informs us so... dahhh), unfortunately only available on the band's website. In there you will find five re-recorded classic tracks of the group. "Children of The Earth", "Lovers to the Grave" and "Panic in the Streets" are taken from their debut album "Time tells no lies". As for the other two tracks "Praying Mantis" and "Captured City", they belong to singles released on 1981 prior to "Time tell no lies".

While listening to the songs (for the gazillionth time), I caught myself liking very much the band's new perspective on things . It is just like taking their "old" self and "teleporting" it in the year of 2011 but without leaving to the listener any feeling of oddity or out of placeness! Mike Freeland's voice matched perfectly with the "old staff" and I confess that he kinda hooked me along with the beautiful choruses, the fiery riffs and the heavenly guitar solos. It is in a way classic but new, simple but technical. For me it is a pleasant surprise to watch a band being reborn from its ashes, something that it was seen also from their latest album "Sanctuary" that was released in 2009.

Of course, you are not expecting from me to rate an EP like this! This would be hilarious! Since I am at loss for words, I will be stealing one of their verses from the song "Children of the Earth" time has no meaning ,time tells no lies... and that is a big truth from a band that is still present for thirty years. That must mean a lot... A big hail to the "insects" of hard rock!