{"product_id":"4251267724482","title":"Manilla Road - Open The Gates - Import Vinyl LP Record Limited Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eManilla Road\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHavingmadeincrediblestrideswhileexperimentingwithseveralhardrocksubgenresontheirfirstthreealbums,ManillaRoadappearedsettodelvefurtherintothefantasy-lacednicheofepicheavymetalthathaddominated1983'sCrystalLogicwithits1985successorOpentheGates.Easilytheirheaviest,hardest-hitting,andmostfocusedefforttodate,thealbumclearlybenefitedfromthearrivalofpowerhousenewdrummerRandyFoxe,whoprovidedamorelimberandmuscularattackbehindthekit,andhelpedfoundersMarkShelton(vocals\/guitar)andScottPark(bass)infuseManillaRoad'ssoundwiththethrash-affectedtechniquesthatwerepopularofmid-'80s.Onlyafewcuts(\"HeavyMetaltotheWorld\"andstunningopener\"Metalstorm\")resortedtoall-outthrash,however,astheretooledtriocontinuedtotakethebulkoftheircuesfromheavymetal'sformativefoundersofthe'70sandmorerecentNewWaveofBritishHeavyMetalchampionslikeIronMaidenandSaxon.Infact,thelatter'sinfluenceisparticularlystrong(todiscerningmetalgeeks,anyway)inthegrowlednarrationsopeningandclosingtheLP,andtheguitarlicksshotthroughthenear-ten-minutesprawlof\"TheNinthWave\"(originallyfeaturedwith\"WitchesBrew\"asa12\"vinylbonusdisc),whichrecalledSaxon's\"TheEagleHasLanded.\"Asforlyrically,Sheltonwasdivingdeepintohisesoteric,mythologicalandsci-fireadings,withArthurianlegendsprovidingthebackbonetomanyofthecompositionscitedabove,aswellastheexcellent,all-too-brieftitlecut.Anotherstandout,theevocativesemi-ballad\"Astronomica\"tookadetourintoouterspace,butthesuiteofsongscomprisingthealbum'ssecondhalfwerealmostentirelybasedonNorselegend,andincludedsuchhighlightsasthedeliberatemarchof\"TheFiresofMars\"andcatharticsoloingcodaof\"WitchesBrew.\"Intheend,theonlythingthatsoundedamissonOpentheGates(thoughnotenoughtoderailtheoverallstellarresults)wasShelton'svoice,sincehereportedlyhadtorecordallhisvocalsinasinglenightwhilesickasadog.Otherthanthat,it'seasytounderstandwhyOpentheGateshasenjoyedsuchenduringpopularityasoneofManillaRoad'sbestlovedalbums,andwhyitremains,alongwithpredecessorCrystalLogicandfollow-up,TheDeluge,arecommendedfirstlistenfornewfans.[Dragonheart's2001digipackreissueofOpentheGatesaddedtwobonusliverenditionsofthetitletrackand\"WitchesBrew.\"]~EduardoRivadavia\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"High Roller Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52479453430049,"sku":"4251267724482","price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4251267724482.jpg?v=1774323228","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/en-de\/products\/4251267724482","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}