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Manticora > Hyperion > Reviews
Manticora - Hyperion

Unleashing a story through furious powermetal! - 98%

Mentallymetal, July 20th, 2021

Hyperion (2002) is a concept album made by Danish power metal maniacs. Story is based upon on the novel Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Soundwise Manticora started with debut Roots of Eternity (1999) in a blend of German power and speed metal and mixed with traditional 80’s stuff while also having a more modern sound. Heavy focus on hard hitting riffs and lead work being in the forefront with a quite unique singer that while operating in the traditional highnote power metal range has that character to his voice you need to hear yourself. With some slower parts coupled with keyboards adding to epic feel of the songs this is what makes the dna of Manticora from Larsen brothers right out of the gates with the debut.

Then comes their next record Darkness With Tales To Tell (2000). Darkness… adding more keyboards to their style and hints of more neon-classical soloing for guitars and also for keyboards. All in all building up from everything and coming to their own as band. They have the songs, choruses, solos. Lars Larsens singing is relentless, angry like speed metal maniac while having his softer emotional side not forgetting those higher notes. Considering the influences Manticora plays metal in modern way with a proper production. All this sums up where Manticora comes from when Hyperion is unleashed upon us.

Listening Hyperion is a great experience and it feels like you really are emerged in some sci-fi story like binge watching a season of X-Files. Manticora adds more variance in their breakdowns to songs that give epic feeling to them with some female vocals and keyboard solos etc. Drums are heavy and sound great as overall all instruments fuse into furious power metal. Mads Volf’s use of cymbals and fills are really something you don’t always hear from others and are awesome addition to Kristian Larsens building of epic leads and riffs. Also one of the best parts is how Manticora fuse Italian power metal solos and melodies in to their own so it sounds original and not just a gimmick. There is a progressive element here evident but for the most part songs go through in straighworward manner maybe because of the nature of concept album makes the story move on. And apart from a short instrumental there are no interludes or talking moments that would distract or slow the record down.

Production wise there is nothing to really nitpick here. For the most part every instrument has its moment to shine even solo bass part in “Keeper of the Time Eternal Champion” but together the instruments are in harmony on this album. Keyboards have their ambient background moments and are in supporting role while also popping up like in “A Long Farewell”. Song itself is an epic 8:44 minute song with great breakdowns and solos including a female voice that’s fitting in the story of the album.

First part of the album evolves from first two songs into some headbangingly heavy riffs, speed and melodies with non-boring breakdowns. This recipe of Manticora’s playing style shows up in songs like “The Old Barge” and “Cantos”. And speaking of those breakdowns. Whether they are long, short, epic, keyboard driven, furious soloing or heavy riff driven like in “On Sea of Grass – Day“, Manticora perhaps uses them better than I’ve heard any other power metal band use breakdowns. Hyperion holds it’s grip on riffage and melodies tight. But we also find a slow ballady song in the form of “At the Keep”. Call it whatever you will it progresses into epic last moments with Kristians soaring leadwork that evolves into an acoustic play after Lars’s vocals give emotional highnotes hitting vocals. This emotional slow part of the album is followed by fast and short song “Swarm Attack” and like the name says it attacks through your speakers before we head into the final song. Final song “Loveternaloveternal….” is a great blend of everything Manticora and has probably the most Manticora sounding leadwork and solos.

12 songs and a little over 1 hour later ends the story and the album Hyperion. Maybe if there was 1 or 2 more sing-along type of catchy choruses it would push the album into being perfect. But I really think as a whole this is one of the best concept albums ever made and a record every power metal fan should give a chance.