This is really an interesting album, released in 2002, but recorded over 20 years earlier. The material is pretty unique, especially when it comes to the slower/longer songs, I don't think any Manilla Road album sounds like this, except maybe "Metal" but that's also a bit different. Actually "The Empire" from "Invasion" comes pretty close to what most of these longer songs sound like, but as albums the two aren't close to being similar. So the material isn't quite metal, more like psychedelic rock stuff, I suppose one could call it proto-metal at times when there's some similarities to early heavy metal ("Black Lotus" being an example of that, great song by the way). When it comes to songs, I think this album is definitely the best of the Invasion - Mark of the Beast - Metal -trio. If I was about to "blaze it" songs like "Avatar", "Time Trap" and "Triumvirate" would be on that soundtrack.

While the album appears to be, in my opinion that is, great even after multiple listens, it has to be noted that there are some weaker songs ("Teacher") and unnecessary parts ("Dream Sequence") as well. So, in conclusion, "Mark of the Beast" is not quite one of the best Manilla Road albums, but it comes close and succeeds in having lots of quality material in it.

Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 16.10.2015 at 22:14

This is really an interesting album, released in 2002, but recorded over 20 years earlier. The material is pretty unique, especially when it comes to the slower/longer songs, I don't think any Manilla Road album sounds like this, except maybe "Metal" but that's also a bit different. Actually "The Empire" from "Invasion" comes pretty close to what most of these longer songs sound like, but as albums the two aren't close to being similar. So the material isn't quite metal, more like psychedelic rock stuff, I suppose one could call it proto-metal at times when there's some similarities to early heavy metal ("Black Lotus" being an example of that, great song by the way). When it comes to songs, I think this album is definitely the best of the Invasion - Mark of the Beast - Metal -trio. If I was about to "blaze it" songs like "Avatar", "Time Trap" and "Triumvirate" would be on that soundtrack.

While the album appears to be, in my opinion that is, great even after multiple listens, it has to be noted that there are some weaker songs ("Teacher") and unnecessary parts ("Dream Sequence") as well. So, in conclusion, "Mark of the Beast" is not quite one of the best Manilla Road albums, but it comes close and succeeds in having lots of quality material in it.

Interesting. I did not know it.
To me this is some compilation where slower, softer, more epic, we can say ballad songs are combine at one place. It makes it epic. I enjoy this album. Firts 2 songs are strongest here IMO.

Written by Bad English on 13.10.2020 at 12:21

To me this is some compilation where slower, softer, more epic, we can say ballad songs are combine at one place. It makes it epic. I enjoy this album. Firts 2 songs are strongest here IMO.

I could imagine these songs being earlier than the first album -- probably not true though;but they sound like less metal, less hard rock, more psych rock, kind of different band even with different style of songwriting, different musical influences. Essential album IMO and I hear some people call it as best MR.

To me they are best

Quite a nice one indeed.
Info should be added that this is not just a regular year 2002 album.
(I should find the time to do that one day.)