WHITE MANTIS is a Thrash Metal band from Munich, Bavaria, Germany. What they play is very fast and furious, but also kept completely in control, avoiding chaos and mayhem along the way. It just falls a little short of calling them a Crossover kind of band. The band started life in 2012, and only since drummer Thomas Taube (2016) and bass player Jan Strobl (2018) joined has this direction been the one that was chosen for future endeavours. Since then, they released a debut album “Sacrifice Your Future” in 2019 and the EP “The Iron Curse” in 2022. Now, another three years after the latter one the band are back with “Arrows At The Sun”. And yes, they are stilling following the yellow brick road they chose before. Oh, and yes, it is the first I have had the pleasure of listening to by WHITE MANTIS.

And let’s make it clear from the start, in the 46:55 minutes that the noises of “Arrows At The Sun” are dripping out and into your ears, you will be bombarded with nothing but fast paced Thrash Metal. If you are not ready for that, I would seriously advise you to not listen to the album in its entirety. You might not survive. For me personally, I am actually enjoying the onslaught that WHITE MANTIS is directing my way. I feel that the energy and the very lively vibes the band is throwing at me is making me feel young and (dare I say it) virile again, at least in my head. I’m glad my body didn’t feel the need to act on it, because I fear that might have resulted in my back taken out or my heart giving in. Or, in the worst case scenario, both.

And again, I have to say that “Arrows At The Sun” is one of those albums that will not give you new insights into Thrash Metal, that isn’t trying to cut out new paths musically. WHITE MANTIS just takes what has already been done and writes their songs in a way that they can use the ideas that are laying around and translate them into what works for them. And even though at times you feel things will get chaotic, the band show that they have a grip on it and keep it all within the boundaries they have set for themselves. And yes, it works. I sincerely hope you feel the same, because the fact of the matter is that WHITE MANTIS has taken Teutonic Thrash Metal and injected new life into it on “Arrows At The Sun”.