Swedish Metal band Manimal seem to have developed a bit of a problem. No, it’s not their strange and slightly questionable name, it’s more of a dilemma – a good one, but one that might be holding them back from some people’s attention. Nowadays there are so many genres and sub genres in Metal, but Manimal are, and would seemingly prefer to be known as, simply a Heavy Metal band, and discourage the use of any of the usual Melodic/Power/Speed etc prefixes that people like me like to use to help people who read this stuff know they might be a band to interest them. And they are of course, actually, a Heavy Metal band, the problem is – there is way more to them than can just be summed up in those iconic two words.
When you listen to “Armageddon” (the band’s fourth album to date), you could say Manimal are a bit Judas Priest…but more modern, Primal Fear…but less Power Metal, Queensryche…but more Speed Metal, Stratovarius…but less Neo-Classical, Pyramaze…but more Power Metal, Brainstorm…but more Heavy Metal. See the problem? Their riff-driven, ballsy Metal mixes all the above bands/styles effortlessly, each track taking the band in a slightly different direction and tempo, whilst maintaining their finely crafted personal identity – Manimal are…Manimal! Soaring and dynamic vocals, crunching riffs and blistering lead-work that are held heartily aloft by the driving bass and pounding drums. What more could a Heavy Metal fan want?
What this album actually is, is an impressive, first rate, top drawer Heavy Metal album, that very well could very easily be many things to many people, but despite the band’s reluctance to be labelled Power Metal, it is going to be of the most interest to fans of the aforementioned Primal Fear, right the way through to the more modern sound of say Dynazty. Manimal are pushing their sound further and ever upwards with each album and “Armageddon” continues that trend. It has variation, it has melody, but above all it has Power. Lots and lots of Power…and it’s Metal. No labels – honest. We’ll just leave it there then shall we?
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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