Manic Sinners – King of the badlands

7/10

From Portugal to Andorra and now off to Romania! Well, it looks like a Eurovision Metal Contest reading it like that. And then figure out that the singer Ovidiu Anton has been representing Romania in the actual contest was a surprise. And if Andorra doesn’t have much to come up with musically. Does Romania?

Well, here is the first ever (for me) band from that country. And it is quite a surprise in two ways.
Who would think Jonny Gioeli had a twin brother from Romania? And the fact that Frontiers Records really has stepped out of their comfort zone a lot since they started signing more bands and not only all those projects.

Apart from a song or two I must say that even if physical album sales are a rare find these days. How come the album cover ever got the go ahead? Don’t get fooled by it if you come across it. There is more than meets the eye here.

Anyway. If you like heavy powerful melodic metal, you are in for a treat. “Drifters Union” sets the pace for most of the album and Ovidius fantastic vocals are a surprise. This is maybe how Axel Rudi Pell would sound like if he had broadened his horizons melodically. He (Axel Rudi Pell) has Jonny so no need really for a change in the vocal position. The similarities are strikingly obvious now and then.

“King of the Badlands” is one heavy hitting song. I feel like “Ball and chain” is the weak link here. A ballad for all that means. Nothing more nothing less. And absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.
Is there someone out there reading this and have quite some time to spare and are a bit nerdy. Can you then do research on how many rock and metal songs are named “Under the Gun”?

If you know your Axel Rudi Pell; you would as I did react to a title like “Carousel” and even more if you know the beforementioned resemblance between the singers.
“Play to lose” is another heavy as hell song at the end of the album.
An hour pass by quick in the presence of a band that can make interesting music. They have not reinvented anything from anyone. Just took bits and pieces from the melodic metal map.
There is no more to say about this one. It took me totally by surprise, in a very positive way.  Thank you, guys. Thank you, Romania: Your result is 7 puncte (Hope I got it right).

Band: Manic Sinners
Title: King of the Badlands
Rating: 7/10
Label: Frontiers
Playing time: 55.50
Date of release: 2022-02-18
Stand out track: King of the Badlands, Play To Lose