Manticora  

Manticora is one of Europe's rising stars in the power metal field and arguably Denmark's top band in that genre. They formed in 1996, with some members previously playing in a band called Fear Itself, and a year later, then called Manticore, they released a self-financed MCD entitled Dead End Solution. They modified their name, changing the last letter from an 'e' to an 'a', as an Australian band had laid claim to the original name, and since then Manticora has steadily improved with each album. Their style draws from several familiar influences, from Blind Guardian to Iron Maiden to Iced Earth and others, but without sounding directly like any of these, the music being a slightly thrash-influenced speedy power metal crunch, clearly European in flavor yet with a distinctive style that prevents them from sounding like just another power metal clone. Vocalist Lars Larsen gives them another dimension of originality, as his clear, commanding, more midrange vocals are quite unique, yet well suited to the music. Reviews for their last couple albums have been stellar, and with good reason, as Manticora is a fine speed/power metal band.

Current Members Lars F. Larsen vocals Kristian Larsen guitars Marten Arendal guitars Kaspar Gram bass Ronni Clasen keyboards Mads Volf drums

Former Members/Guests Flemming Schultz guitars René Nielsen bass Jeppe Eg Jensen keyboards (Urkraft)

Discography

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(MCD) Dead End Solution 
1997 self-released

Dead End Solution How In Silence The Pain You Offer In Your Face

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen René Nielsen Mads Volf

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Roots Of Eternity 
1999 Black Lotus

... From Far Beyond When Forever Ends The Vision Intoxicated Beyond The Walls Of Sleep Nowhere Land The Flood Pale Faces Private Hell Roots Of Eternity

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Flemming Schultz René Nielsen Jeppe Eg Jensen Mads Volf

Reviews:   Metal Observer 

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Darkness With Tales To Tell 
2001 Scarlet

... From Far Beyond The Chance Of Dying In A Dream Dynasty Of Fear Dragon's Mist Felice The Nightfall War The Puzzle Critical Mass Lost Souls The Twilight Shadow Shadows With Tales To Tell Dead End Solution (bonus track Korea)

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Flemming Schultz René Nielsen Jeppe Eg Jensen Mads Volf

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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Hyperion 
2002 Scarlet

A Gathering Of Pilgrims Filaments Of Armageddon The Old Barge Keeper Of Time - Eternal Champion Cantos On A Sea Of Grass - Night Reversed On A Sea Of Grass - Day A Long Farewell At The Keep Swarm Attackl Loveternaloveternal... Future World (bonus track Japan)

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Marten Arendal Kaspar Gram Jeppe Eg Jensen Mads Volf

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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8 Deadly Sins 
2004 Massacre

If? King Of The Absurd Playing God Melancholic Creator Of Failure It Feels Like The End Enigma Fall From Grace Help Me Like No One Can If, then ... Private Hell (Bonus track Japan) Spawn Of Darkness (Bonus track Asia)

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Marten Arendal Kaspar Gram Mads Volf

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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The Black Circus Part 1, Letters 
2006 Massacre

Enter The Carnival The Black Circus Intuneric I Enchanted Mind Intuneric II Forever Carousel Freakshow Gypsies' Dance Part 1 Intuneric III Wisdom Intuneric IV Disciples Of The Entities Soul Devourer (Bonus track Japan)

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Marten Arendal Kaspar Gram Mads Volf

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The Black Circus Part 2, Disclosure 
2007 Massacre

Entrance Beauty Will Fade Gypsies' Dance Part 2 Intuneric V Haita Di Lupi When The Soulreapers Cry Intuneric VI All That Remain Intuneric VII Of Madness In Its Purity Shadows With Tales To Tell - Live In The Black Circus

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Marten Arendal Kaspar Gram Mads Volf

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Safe 
2010 Nightmare

In The Abyss Of Desperation Silence The Freedom Complete From The Pain Of Loss (I Learned About The Truth) A Lake That Drained Carrion Eaters Safe Embryonic Man (bonus track for Japan)

Lars F. Larsen Kristian Larsen Marten Arendal Kaspar Gram Ronni Clasen Mads Volf

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility