Praying Mantis – Standing Tall – Single Review – motionagency

Review By Darren McIntyre

Praying Mantis are a heavy metal / NWOBHM / Melodic AOR band from London, England who were formed in 1973 and was originally called Junction. The boys renamed themselves Praying Mantis in 1974 and began a journey that would last over 5 decades, producing 12 studio albums, 3 live & 3 compilations, like most bands of their time there have been numerous personnel changes but they have kept the music at the forefront of their journey. On the 19th of April the boys drop their eagerly awaited new album Defiance upon us and from that very album comes their colossal new single Standing Tall which I will be reviewing for you today.

Standing Tall – The track begins with smooth synth tones that bring a cool guitar lick along for the ride as this AOR beast opens and really gets us in the mood. The rhythm section brings a punchy snare drum beat that lets the cymbal snaps take the track to another place as the soulful melodic vocals come through and really balance the arrangement out. The cool twin guitar riffs guide this foot-stomping track along the way as a deep, cool bassline drops dark brooding grooves all through this real fist-pumping rocker track that brings a real freshness to this epic composition, the boys are really digging deep and pushing the tone through the midsection as we get a punchy, funk groove that has synth tones littered throughout this fantastic piece. The slick, crisp guitar licks erupt through the track and really push the soaring vocals as they let us feel the energy pouring through this fantastic track.

Praying Mantis  –
                          Jaycee Cuijipers  –  Lead Vocals
                          Tino Troy  –  Vocals / Guitar / Keys
                          Andy Burgess  –  Lead Guitar / Rhythm Guitar
                          Chris Troy  –  Bass / Vocals
                          Hans In’t Zandt  –  Drums

Track Listing  –
                      Standing Tall