Manilla Road
The Deluge

Now I think I've understood what this album is. Perhaps it is the greatest expression of epic metal. The kind from the past. Yes, because this "The Deluge" is dated 1986 and follows two masterpieces like "Crystal Logic" and "Open the Gates".

Forget the pompous orchestrations of Rhapsody, the sparkling cheerfulness of Helloween, the Stratovarius style keyboards. "The Deluge" is pure heavy metal: sharp guitars, dazzling solos, unhealthy voice. The lyrics range from the Hundred Years' War to ultimately arriving at the Aeneid, Atlantis, and the Odyssey.

Anyone who listens to this album cannot help but be amazed by the overwhelming power of the opener "Dementia", the dark instrumental "Morbid Tabernacle" that vaguely reminds me of "Queen of the Dark Horizons" by our own Rhapsody...or remain indifferent to the progressive "Shadow in the Black" with its devastating metallic burst in the second part. If after "savoring" the pathos of these songs you are still not satisfied, remove any doubt by listening to "Divine Victim" and perhaps allow yourself to be lulled by the lyrics centered on the figure of Joan of Arc.

I haven't found a weak point in "The Deluge": every track has something original. "Taken by Storm" and its sick rhythm where drummer Randy Foxe demonstrates all his talent. Not to mention the chorus of "Isle of the Dead" which is absolutely dark and epic.

After listening to such metallic beauty and believing that I had already gotten the most out of this record, with the title track I realized that Mark Shelton is one of the greatest songwriters in metal. You might think I'm exaggerating, but I was absolutely enchanted by the story narrated in music of the epic of Atlantis, the submerged continent. After an introduction in which Plato is mentioned (in his dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias" he claimed the existence of Atlantis), the song becomes absolutely dark and full of pathos. For over 8 minutes, it feels like reliving the legend of the submerged continent.

In conclusion, I consider "The Deluge" the greatest work of Manilla Road and perhaps even the greatest in the epic realm. Nowadays it is increasingly difficult to find albums of this caliber. Do you think you could give this album a chance?

1-Dementia (3:09)

2-Shadow in the Black (5:33)

3-Divine Victim (3:16)

4-Hammer of the Witches (2:39)

5-Morbid Tabernacle (1:52)

6-Isle of the Dead (2:52)

7-Taken by Storm (3:19)

8-The Deluge (8:14)

9-Friction in Mass (6:26)

10-Rest in Pieces (1:45)