By: Manilla Road

Date: February 25, 1986

Format used: Digital

Rating: 3.5/5

Whether or not Manilla Road still was at their creative peak in the 80s is of little importance. The Deluge does not suffer from any one particular shortcoming, rather it is a weakening of all the strengths that make Manilla Road’s music great.

Case in point, the lyrics are less florid, less epic, and while there is a case to be made for why this stripped down approach to songwriting was taken, I can guarantee you, if this was their format from them start of their career – the most well-known and well respected music Manilla Road has ever produced would only have a fraction of the majesty and excellence that made their budding underground releases so impactful.

The songwriting itself is not bad, but they lift just as much from the canons of mid-era Bathory with a hint of Cirith Ungol as they contain their own touch. And there is still a distinct lean towards the grittier thrash sound that started on Open the Gates. The thrash metal influences are a lot clearer on this release, and they are appropriately accompanied by a down-toned and somber vocal delivery by Mark Shelton. Subject-matter is also a lot darker, and we see a more ballsy stance being taken against religion, with the poets lambasting specific historic ills in their verse. Its no longer just “religion is illogical” or “Religion is slavery” it’s “the church burned heretics” and “this holy war is considered a national disgrace to this day”. It is always nicer when bands take a specific stance when they begin making music with more venom.

Although there is a cost to this change in their music. There is a more lemming-like tendency for songs on this album to entrench themselves firmly in 80s underground metal orthodoxy. And in truth, Manilla Road’s strength has always been that they can deliver the goods without being constrained by the comfort zone of other metal bands.

That being said, Manilla Road are far from creatively spent. They still have some excellent riffs, and their are even some moments of excellent atmospheric keyboard interludes – which more than justifies the instrument the band has historically distanced themselves from.

Overall, the Deluge is an album of experimentation for Manilla Road, much like Invasion was. And as we go forth into the middle of a new decade for the Kansas outfit,we will hopefully see a whole new sound for Manilla Road emerge. But only time will tell if it holds a candle to what came before.

I would recommend this album for any fan f 80s Metal really, since it plays it so safe, but there are some qualities that could be used to get the Thrash audience appreciating the more traditional sensitivities of Manilla Road.