The Black Circus Pt. 1 (CD) ~ Manticora (Artist) Cover Art

The Black Circus Pt. 1 (CD)

By: Manticora (Artist)

More About this Product
List Price: $15.98
Tower Price: $14.16
You Save: $1.82 (12%)
Add to BagAdd to Bag Click to go directly to the checkout.
This item qualifies for FREE Shop N' Save Shipping for orders over $25. Check individual shipping price. *Some Restrictions Apply.
Availability: In Stock
Share This:
Add To KaboodleAdd To Kaboodle  Submit To Digg!Submit To Digg!  Share On FacebookShare On Facebook  Add to FavoritesAdd to Favorites  TwitterTwitter 

Product Description

Track Listing

DISC 1 for The Black Circus Pt. 1 (CD) Album By Manticora (Artist)
1   Enter The Carnival  
2   Black Circus, The  
3   Intuneric I  
4   Enchanted Mind  
5   Intuneric II  
6   Forever Carousel  
7   Freakshow  
8   Gyspies' Dance Part 1  
9   Intuneric III  
10   Wisdom  
11   Intuneric IV  
12   Disciples Of The Entities  
 

Run a Quick Search on "The Black Circus Pt. 1" by Manticora to Browse Related Products:

Browse more products related to "The Black Circus Pt. 1"

Browse more products related to "Manticora"

Title Note

Composer: Tommy Hansen.

Personnel: Karin Borum (vocals); Martin Arendal (guitar); Mads Volf (drums).

Audio Mixer: Tommy Hansen.

Recording information: Jailhouse Studio, Horsens, Denmark (04/07/2006-05/03/2006).

As more and more American metal acts take center stage, from Lamb of God and Intronaut to Mastodon and the regrouping of the original Slayer, it's easy to forget the contributions made by the European acts that owned the 1990s and early part of the 21st century. On American shores, Danish metal band Manticora are underground. They shouldn't be; perhaps it's because of the conceptual nature of their material -- concept albums have become a staple with them and this is their third in five releases -- or their willfully over the top musicality that blends in elements of prog with their power metal approach. Whatever the case, this act is one of the more inventive and memorable in the entire genre. Black Circus is based on a narrative of H.P. Lovecraft, and is spread over two different recordings. Pt. 1: Letters basically sets up all the strange details of the journey of a traveling American circus in 1896, told through the point of view of a young man who has been hired as its janitor. It is his dream job to be sure, but there is something very wrong with this circus. Pt. 2 will offer the filled-in narrative. In any case, the band -- Martin Arendal (guitars), Kasper Gram (bass), Kristian Larsen (guitars), Mads Volf (drums), and Lars F. Larsen (vocals) -- is ambitious, pretentious, and utterly skilled at both composition and execution. This is part power metal, part thrash metal, part prog rock, and utterly inspired. As a vocalist, Lars Larsen pushes himself to the very brink of his abilities. There is no cookie monster crap on Manticora albums. This is a vocalist who has studied. Woven through his parts are a choir -- orchestrated and performed by the band and producer Tommy Hansen -- and singer Karin Brom's gorgeous classical stylings. As is now typical of Euro-metal groups, keyboards are threaded into the mix as well.

The bottom line: this is dynamic-laden, dramatic, theatrical epic metal. It's florid but packs a wallop. Its musicality detracts not one iota from its depth and power. This is a mature band that is extending the genre without watering it down. Manticora aspire to nothing other than excellence in their chosen mode of rock & roll expression. There are five brief interludes that break up the narrative, urging the listener down into the rabbit hole further and further. The rest is seductive, pummeling, and kitschy music -- think about Queen if they had stayed the course of their first three records and had heard black metal and the San Francisco metal of the '80s and '90s. The standout cuts are the title track, "Enchanted Mind," "Freakshow," and the amazing "Gypsies Dance, Pt. 1." Manticora bring back the myth, mayhem, and madness, the horror show fun to heavy metal, played with the vengeance of junkyard dogs and the visionary zeal of aesthetes. If your kid brings this record home, sit down and listen to it with her or him; you might rediscover what was magical about rock & roll in the first place. ~ Thom Jurek

Customer Reviews for "The Black Circus Pt. 1 (CD)" by Manticora (Artist)

There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!

Submit your Review

Explore More Great Tower Sales & Specials

Tower Records music Sales, Promotions & Special Features

Today's Most Popular Music Genres

Tower.com Music Boutique Stores

  • Greatest Hits Boutique
    Expand your musical horizons with our monthly selections for "Greatest Hits" and "Best Of" CD Collections.
  • Tower Records Vinyl Store
    Enjoy some of our favorite new pressings, indie rock releases, and milk crate essentials priced at up to 30% off so you can keep spinning right round (Like a record!)
  • The Beatles Collector's Boutique
    On 09-09-09, experience music history when the original studio albums by The Beatles are re-released, digitally remastered for the first time! Browse our favorite Beatles music, video and book titles!
  • Woodstock Anniversary Boutique
    Celebrating 40 years of Woodstock - Three days of music that changed the world forever!
  • The History Of Indie Rock Boutique
    Browse Our Album Art History of Indie Rock Influencers, from the 1960s to today!

Interact with Tower.com