Ange ou démon

Manigance does not get the respect they deserve. Why? Because they commit the rare mistake of singing in a language besides English. Almost all bands, in order to be more cosmopolitan, sing in English, even if it isn't their native tongue. This is a real tragedy, because the possibilities of some of the other languages remain untapped while the English language is subject to a constant stream of abuse. Manigance breaks that mold by singing in French, and while they take a hit in popularity, their music becomes even better.

Just listen to En Mon Nom. Even if you hate France and hate the French, you have to admit: this is damn good stuff. The French language has a way of shortening long concepts into tight phrases that fit well into songs. En Mon Nom is French for In My Name, or when used in context, On My Behalf. While it's hard to wrap a song around a clunky phrase like On My Behalf, En Mon Nom is a well-written, intense masterpiece that could be placed with the likes of Stratovarius and Iced Earth in terms of sound quality and overall catchiness.

The rest of the album isn't stratospheric like En Mon Nom, but it's still good, solid Power Metal. The guitars are strong, the riffs are original, and the keyboard is present but not invasive. If this band were American, they would be touring the world by now, but as it is they languish in France for the most part because of teh metal world's refusal to accept their beautiful language. This album shows that the French can kick ass just like anybody else, and just because nobody seems ready to accept this fact does not make it any less true. Do yourself a favor and buy this amazing album.