I have to admit that I am not much of a MANILLA ROAD fan, but I have heard many of their albums over the years and always respected them for their work. I never could put my finger on the reasons why I never fully got into them... I usually go for Metal that is not in the mainstream of things.  I now have the fifteenth full album of this Kansas based band therefore this is the chance for me to figure it all out.

Power Metal is a form of Metal that many bands, no matter the type, can look on and see an influence that shines bright.  It is strong, powerful and somewhat fast music with a great sense of melody as well.  In the Power Metal scene, none have had such a long career as MANILLA ROAD's. With so many albums (Both studio and Live) to their credit - it is no wonder that Metalheads everywhere love and respect them.

With songs like "Into the "Maelstrom" and "Playground of the Damned" showcasing the band's talents and classic sound as not wavered or weakened, you would see that this is a band that has been a force in Metal for a hell of a long time (Formed back in 1977) and seems to be continuing the same line. They remind me of where Metal has came from, and showed the power that it has been commanding so many years past.  They certainly sound like old school... but they did have a hand in developing it, didn't they?

However, I am still not a full time fan, but I have become a stronger respecter of what MANILLA ROAD does and has been doing all this time. It is one of those bands that we all get once in a while and sometimes we never quite become fans. Nonetheless, in time you will find yourself enjoying their music. Classic sounding, very talent-filled and just strong in every way possible... the band always has been unappreciated.  We need to stop, and just damn well listen.