Manitou - Deadlock (CD)

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Do you ever wonder how Iron Maiden would have sounded if they had a fresh production (something absent from the band the last couple thousand years), a different vocalist (a good one - not the tragic Blaze) and realized this is 2006 and not 1986? The prefect remedy for your questions can be found in Manitou's new album Deadlock.
Manitou formed back in 1998 and released a series of demo (Bad Moon Rising in 1999, Mercenary again in 1999, Machine Mind in 2000 and Face The Snake again in 2000, Brothers Promise in 2001 and finally Valley Of Evergreen in 2002). This last demo was sent to labels and the outcome was a deal with English label Rage Of Achilles Records. Their debut was released in summer 2004 (The Bad Moon Rising). Unfortunately their label went broke. The band signed a new deal with Firebox Records and re-released their debut album.  
Manitou play a mixture of traditional metal and melodic technical metal. Something like Iron Maiden meets Queensryche (Empire Era of course). Their sound is powerfull, melodic, carrying all the trademarks of what we call traditional metal but still in the same time sounds fresh with a bombastic production and several innovations in the composing aspect. Their music is based upon harmonies, grand refrains (for sing along action), flashy guitar solos and excellent vocals.
It's great to see the band's ability to travel back and forth in time. The guitars can play a classic Maiden-like riff and a couple seconds later to spit a modern, more aggressive tune. The great, crystal like, production helps to the maximum offering clarity to the compositions while adding a bit of dark mood in the whole package.
In conclusion this is a great album I enjoyed listening lots of times. Fans of traditional metal should check it out. Album highlights: And The Silence Bites, Fools In Control, Swallowing The Dark.