Praying Mantis

Formed in London in 1975 around brothers Tino Troy and Chris Troy, Praying Mantis belongs to the first wave of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal while maintaining a melodic writing that is close to hard rock and AOR. The band gained attention in the late 1970s on the London circuit and later on the Metal for Muthas compilation in 1980, before releasing Time Tells No Lies in 1981, an album where twin guitars, clear choruses, and heavy tension intersect without tipping into an aggressive register. After a long recording hiatus, Praying Mantis returned in the early 1990s with Predator in Disguise (1991), followed by A Cry for the New World (1993), To the Power of Ten (1995), Forever in Time (1998), Nowhere to Hide (2000) and The Journey Goes On (2003). Despite numerous lineup changes over the decades, the core formed by the Troy brothers maintains an identity based on guitar harmonies, very melodic vocal lines, and a constant link between traditional heavy metal and British hard rock. The band continued activity with Sanctuary (2009), Legacy (2015), Gravity (2018), Katharsis (2022) and Defiance (2024), on stage as well as in the studio, between specialized festivals and European venues.