Origin: Denmark  
Genres: Power Metal
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Page online: March 29, 2004
Last update/review: February 6, 2024

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.

Recent album: Mycelium, released on January 26, 2024.

Current Members

Lars F. Larsen

vocals

Kristian Larsen

guitars

Stefan Johansson

guitars (ex-Satanic Slaughter)

Kaspar Gram

bass

Mads Volf

drums

Former Members/Guests

Flemming Schultz

guitars

Marten Arendal

guitars

René Nielsen

bass

Sebastian Andersen

bass

Jeppe Eg Jensen

keyboards (ex-Urkraft)

Ronni Clasen

keyboards

Lawrence Dinamarca (guest)

drums (Carnal Forge, ex-Loch Vostok, ex-Nightrage)



Discography



Dead End Solution  EP
1997 self-released
  1. Dead End Solution
  2. How
  3. In Silence
  4. The Pain You Offer
  5. In Your Face
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • René Nielsen
  • Mads Volf



Roots Of Eternity  
1999 Black Lotus
  1. ... From Far Beyond
  2. When Forever Ends
  3. The Vision
  4. Intoxicated
  5. Beyond The Walls Of Sleep
  6. Nowhere Land
  7. The Flood
  8. Pale Faces
  9. Private Hell
  10. Roots Of Eternity
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Flemming Schultz
  • René Nielsen
  • Jeppe Eg Jensen
  • Mads Volf



Darkness With Tales To Tell  
2001 Scarlet
  1. ... From Far Beyond
  2. The Chance Of Dying In A Dream
  3. Dynasty Of Fear
  4. Dragon's Mist
  5. Felice
  6. The Nightfall War
  7. The Puzzle
  8. Critical Mass
  9. Lost Souls
  10. The Twilight Shadow
  11. Shadows With Tales To Tell
  12. Dead End Solution (bonus track Korea)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Flemming Schultz
  • René Nielsen
  • Jeppe Eg Jensen
  • Mads Volf



Hyperion  
2002 Scarlet
  1. A Gathering Of Pilgrims
  2. Filaments Of Armageddon
  3. The Old Barge
  4. Keeper Of Time - Eternal Champion
  5. Cantos
  6. On A Sea Of Grass - Night
  7. Reversed
  8. On A Sea Of Grass - Day
  9. A Long Farewell
  10. At The Keep
  11. Swarm Attackl
  12. Loveternaloveternal...
  13. Future World (bonus track Japan)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Marten Arendal
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Jeppe Eg Jensen
  • Mads Volf



8 Deadly Sins  
2004 Massacre
  1. If?
  2. King Of The Absurd
  3. Playing God
  4. Melancholic
  5. Creator Of Failure
  6. It Feels Like The End
  7. Enigma
  8. Fall From Grace
  9. Help Me Like No One Can
  10. If, then ...
  11. Private Hell (Bonus track Japan)
  12. Spawn Of Darkness (Bonus track Asia)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Marten Arendal
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Mads Volf



The Black Circus Part 1, Letters  
2006 Massacre
  1. Enter The Carnival
  2. The Black Circus
  3. Intuneric I
  4. Enchanted Mind
  5. Intuneric II
  6. Forever Carousel
  7. Freakshow
  8. Gypsies' Dance Part 1
  9. Intuneric III
  10. Wisdom
  11. Intuneric IV
  12. Disciples Of The Entities
  13. Soul Devourer (Bonus track Japan)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Marten Arendal
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Mads Volf



The Black Circus Part 2, Disclosure  
2007 Massacre
  1. Entrance
  2. Beauty Will Fade
  3. Gypsies' Dance Part 2
  4. Intuneric V
  5. Haita Di Lupi
  6. When The Soulreapers Cry
  7. Intuneric VI
  8. All That Remain
  9. Intuneric VII
  10. Of Madness In Its Purity
  11. Shadows With Tales To Tell - Live In The Black Circus
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Marten Arendal
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Mads Volf



Safe  
2010 Nightmare
  1. In The Abyss Of Desperation
  2. Silence The Freedom
  3. Complete
  4. From The Pain Of Loss (I Learned About The Truth)
  5. A Lake That Drained
  6. Carrion Eaters
  7. Safe
  8. Embryonic Man (bonus track for Japan)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Marten Arendal
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Ronni Clasen
  • Mads Volf



To Kill To Live To Kill  
2018 ViciSolum
  1. Piano Concerto 1: B Flat minor...
  2. Echoes of a Silent Scream
  3. Through the Eyes of the Killer: Towering Over You
  4. Katana: Awakening the Lunacy
  5. The Farmer's Tale (Part 1: The Aftermath of Indifference)
  6. The Devil in Lisbon
  7. Growth
  8. Humiliation Supreme
  9. Nothing Lasts Forever
  10. Katana: Opium
  11. Through The Eyes of the Killer: Revival of the Muse That Is Violence
  12. The Farmer's Tale (Part 2: Annihilation at the Graves)
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Stefan Johansson
  • Sebastian Andersen
  • Lawrence Dinamarca



To Live To Kill To Live  
2020 ViciSolum
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Stefan Johansson
  • Kaspar Gram
  • Lawrence Dinamarca



Mycelium  
2024 Mighty Music
  1. Winter Solstice
  2. Necropolitans
  3. Demonday
  4. Angel of the Spring
  5. Golem Sapiens
  6. Mycelium
  7. Beast of the Fall
  8. Equinox
  9. Mementopolis
  10. Día de los Muertos
  • Lars F. Larsen
  • Kristian Larsen
  • Stefan Johansson
  • Kaspar Gram




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