Mark Shelton (vocals/guitar) was teached how to play the piano, by his mother, at the age of 5. But other instruments should follow. He learned to play drums and he was a member of various jazz- and country-rock bands. Then he started his own rock 'n' roll band, called Embryo. From one of the two guitar players in this band he learned how to play the guitar. After High School he started to study anthropology and he formed a new band, together with bass player Scott Park and drummer Rick Fisher. This was in 1977, and the band was Manilla Road. In 1980 they released their first record, 'Invasion', on their own label, Roadster Records. Their second album, named 'Metal', was released in 1982, also on the bands own label. These 2 albums were very experimental, with different styles blending together. You can find simple rock-tunes on both albums but also long space rock songs. On their way in finding their own style the band recorded one album which was not released. They simply were not satisfied with the result. For most fans the Manilla Road story began in 1983. That is when the song "Flaming Metal System" was featured on the Shrapnel Records sampler, 'US-Metal 3'. This lead to the recording of 'Crystal Logic', perhaps the bands most hailed album to date.

INVASION / METAL (1980/1982, 2004) CULT METAL CLASSICS

Manilla Road is one of those bands I'd heard about for years, but never checked out myself. They are considered originator, and by some even leaders, of the epic metal genre. The bands first 2 album, 'Invasion' (1980) and 'Metal' (1982), were virtually impossible to get a hold of, if you didn't settle for one of many bootlegs. Luckily Cult Metal Classics reissued both albums as a double CD set in 2004.

'Invasion' is the humble beginnings for Manilla Road. Originally released in 1980, on the bands own Roadster Records, it doesn't feature the style of music that was to become synonymous with the name Manilla Road in the years to come. Rather this is a mix of '70's space-rock, prog and proto-metal. The songs are loooooooooong, but never really go anywhere. And some of the choruses are even more repetitive than Iron Maiden's latest blemishes. Just listen to "I'm a Street Jammer", where the chorus line is repeated 'til you feel like burying an axe in the speakers on your stereo! I only really like "Centurian War Games", (an acoustic '70's bonfire sing-along epic thingy, that clocks in at under 4 minutes, alas the shortest song on this CD) and "The Empire" (with 13 and a half minutes, the longest track here). Both reminds me of Jethro Tull, or Wishbone Ash maybe? 'Invasion' does get better with repeated listening. But it remains a novelty record, for the die-hard fans only. The album is definitely an acquired taste.

Killer tracks: Centurian War Games, The Empire

'Metal' was the second album from Manilla Road. At least the second one released. You see, the band recorded a sophomore effort during two recording sessions in 1981. The working title for the project was "The Dreams Of Eschaton". However, the band members were unhappy with the sound, and they didn't think the material was metal enough! Thus they scrapped the whole thing, and started from scratch. Thus 'Metal' was recorded, and released on Roadster Records in 1982. The "lost" album would later see the light of day in 2002, under the title "Mark Of The Beast".

'Metal' features more of the quirky proto-metal heard on the debut. It's a more focused record in that it doesn't blend styles as much as 'Invasion'. However, it is still a far cry from the epic metal on the bands later releases. We can hear the outlines of what is in store in the future here though. The title track f.ex. have a definitive epic metal feel to it, and the members of Manowar must have lent an ear or 8 to this album, I'm sure! Manilla Road also re-recorded "Far Side Of The Sun" for this album.

Killer tracks: Queen Of The Black Coast, Metal

CRYSTAL LOGIC (1983, 2004) IRON GLORY RECORDS/IROND LTD.

'Crystal Logic' was to be the third album from Manilla Road, and the one that broke the band on a larger scale, much thanks to the song "Flaming Metal System" being featured on Shrapnel Records 'US Metal Vol. 3' compilation.

Mind you, "Flaming Metal System" was not on the original version of 'Crystal Logic', released through Roadster Records in 1983. However, when Iron Glory Records reissued the album on CD in 2000, they added the song as a bonus. They even put it as the third track on the album, making it a part of the song order, instead of ending the CD as most bonus cuts do. The song do fit perfectly amongst the rest of the original tracks though, and I would never have noticed any difference, since I never heard the original vinyl version.

Musically this is where Manilla Road finds their sound, and it all comes together for them. Save for the somewhat commercial sounding "Feeling Free Again", the rest of the songs are all pure epic metal, played with charm and conviction, more than instrumental bedazzling. The production is sub par, the vocals an acquired taste, and the songs will most likely leave you cold after just one spin. But if you are looking for that medieval, ethereal, epic feel, for some the only true metal feeling, then Manilla Road are the purveyors. 'Crystal Logic' is refreshingly free of genre clichés, and song writing wise it's all about capturing the right feeling, more than following the unwritten rules of metal. So instead of your average galloping riffs and ditto rhythm section, you get songs that differ in pace, approach and mood, and still the result is a homogenous metal meltdown. Now, I am not saying that this is the best thing since sliced bread or anything. I'm just stating that true metal is about being originators more than followers, and here Manilla Road have managed just that.

'Crystal Logic' is hailed by most fans as Manilla Road's crowning achievement. Myself, I have heard too few of their albums to make a comment on that. But I certainly hold the album in higher esteem than it's 2 predecessors. I also like it more each time I listen to it.

Killer tracks: Necropolis, Flaming Metal System, Crystal Logic, The Ram

ATLANTIS RISING (2001) IRON GLORY RECORDS

The band had been laying dormant for a decade, following 'The Circus Maximus' album in 1992. That album was supposed to be a solo project, but the record label released it as under the Manilla Road moniker, resulting in the bands demise. But in 2001 Mark Shelton returned with an all new line-up, and released Manilla Road's 10th studio album, 'Atlantis Rising'.

Now, I have not heard the albums released between 'Crystal Logic' and 'Atlantis Rising'. But the musical gap between the 2 is remarkably small. Recorded almost 20 years apart, still they, for the most part, sound like they were recorded back to back. In fact, 'Atlantis Rising' is maybe even more similar to the bands first 2 albums, than anything else in the bands catalogue. The opening track, "Megalodon" could easily fit on the space-rock tinged 'Metal' f.ex. What makes this 2001 album appear much older than it really is is the production. Completely void of modern influences whatsoever, 'Ataltis Rising' dares to thread in the same sonic landscapes as album recorded 20 years earlier!

Lyrically 'Atlantis Rising' is a concept album. The story mixes parts from Norse mythology, Greek Mythology, Lovecraft and the legend of Atlantis to create a unique story of war and battle. The cover art even brings in some Egyptian symbols. Personally I couldn't care less about the lyrics, and chose to concentrate on the music.

'Atlantis Rising' is a diverse album, sporting songs varying from acoustically somber to thrash like speed and frenzy, still always pertaining that epic feel with repeated galloping rhythms. Manilla Road defies the standard verse-chorus-verse style songwriting, and let's the songs live their own life, and write their own rules. More often than not this results in longwinded songs, again with that epic overtone. For me, this has been the easiest of the Manilla Road albums to get into, so far. Several songs struck me as more catchy then anything I had heard from the band earlier. This can of course go both way in the long run; 1. I find that the album is too easy to digest, and it starts to get boring after a while, or 2. I find the galloping rhythms effective enough for me to enjoy the album again and again. Right now it gives me just enough to want to revisit it in the near future.

Killer tracks: Megalodon, Atlantis Rising, Flight Of Ravens, March Of The Gods, War Of The Gods