Praying Mantis

England's Praying Mantis ranked among the more tuneful acts to surface from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The group fused a Thin Lizzy-style twin-guitar approach with Def Leppard-like vocal harmonies, producing a sound reminiscent of later-day Rainbow. Originally called Junction, the band formed in the late '70s when brothers Tino (vocals/guitar) and Chris Troy (bass/vocals) joined forces, later recruiting Steve Carroll (guitar/vocals) and Dave Potts (drums). This configuration issued the three-track demo EP Captured City in 1980, whose title song also featured on the influential Metal for Muthas compilation. BMG Europe soon signed the group, which recorded its debut album Time Tells No Lies for release in 1981. The record enjoyed modest commercial traction by NWOBHM measures, while lead single "Cheated" registered respectable chart placement and secured Praying Mantis a slot at the Reading Festival. Business and legal conflicts with management soon triggered a year-long halt in recording and touring that effectively stalled their momentum. After BMG dropped them, Praying Mantis dissolved. A surprising resurgence of popularity in Japan then sparked a 1990 reunion—with ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul DiAnno—that included a tour and produced the Live at Last LP. Throughout the '90s the band issued further albums with rotating vocalists, including Predator in Disguise (1991), A Cry for a New World (1994), and To the Power of Ten (1995). None of these releases charted or matched the debut's impact, yet Praying Mantis maintained a U.K. touring presence. Fall 2000 brought the album Nowhere to Hide.