Origin: England  
Genres: NWOBHM
Official Site
Last update/review: May 10, 2024

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis first appeared on the legendary Metal For Muthas compilation in 1980, and their song, "Captured City" was possibly the best song on that album. Their style was more melodic than most NWOBHM bands, owing to their harmonized vocals. By 1981 they had released their debut album, Time Tells No Lies, but despite good reviews, the band seemed to vanish soon afterward. In reality they had mutated, first hooking up with Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr and going by the name of Clive Burr's Escape, and later (circa 1984) as Stratus. Finally, in 1990, the Troy brothers played a live set in Tokyo with two other former Iron Maiden members in tow, these being guitarist Dennis Stratton and vocalist Paul Di'Anno. The concert is released as a new Praying Mantis album, and the band is back in action, with Stratton staying on as permanent guitarist. The band continues on, with several lineup changes surrounding the core of Stratton and the two Troys.

Recent album: Defiance, released on April 19, 2024.

Current Members

John Cuijpers

vocals

Tino Troy

guitars/vocals

Andy Burgess

guitars/vocals

Chris Troy

bass/vocals

Hans in't Zandt

drums

Former Members/Guests

Paul Di'Anno (guest)

vocals (ex-Iron Maiden, ex-Killers)

Colin Peel

vocals

Mark Thompson-Smith

vocals

Gary Barden

vocals (ex-Michael Schenker Group, ex-Statetrooper)

Tony O'Hora

vocals

Bernie Shaw

vocals (Uriah Heep)

Tom Jackson

vocals

John Sloman

vocals (ex-Uriah Heep)

Doogie White

vocals (ex-Alcatrazz, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, ex-Rata Blanca, ex-Rainbow, ex-Tank (Tucker/Evans version))

Mike Freeland

vocals (More)

Steve Carroll

guitars/vocals

Dennis Stratton

guitars/vocals (ex-Iron Maiden)

Don Garbett

keyboards

Jon Bavin

keyboards

Dave Potts

drums

Bruce Bisland

drums (ex-Statetrooper, Tank, ex-Weapon UK, ex-Wildfire)

Clive Burr

drums (ex-Elixir, ex-Iron Maiden, ex-Trust) RIP: March 12, 2013, multiple sclerosis

Martin Johnson

drums

Benjamin Reid

drums


Discography



Time Tells No Lies  
1981 Arista
  1. Cheated
  2. All Day and all of the night
  3. Running For Tomorrow
  4. Rich City Kids
  5. Lovers To The Grave
  6. Panic In The Streets
  7. Beads of Ebony
  8. Flirting With Suicide
  9. Children Of The Earth
  10. 30 Pieces Of Silver*
  11. Flirting With Suicide (Live)
  12. Panic In The Streets (Live)
  • Tino Troy
  • Steve Carroll
  • Chris Troy
  • Dave Potts


Live At Last  LIVE
1990
  1. Panic In The Streets
  2. Dangerous Game
  3. Children Of The Earth
  4. Lovers To The Grave
  5. Flirting With Suicide
  6. Hot Tonight
  7. Running For Tomorrow
  8. Wrathchild
  9. Murders In The Rue Morgue
  10. Remember Tomorrow
  11. Phantom Of The Opera
  12. Iron Maiden
  13. Cheated
  14. Running Free
  • Paul Di'Anno
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


Predator In Disguise  
1991 Canyon Intl.
  1. Can't See The Angels
  2. She's Hot
  3. Can't Wait Forever
  4. This Time Girl
  5. Time Slipping Away
  6. Listen To What Your Heart Says
  7. Still Want You
  8. The Horn
  9. Battle Royal
  10. Only You
  11. Borderline
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


A Cry For The New World  
1993 Canyon Intl.
  1. Rise Up Again
  2. A Cry For The New World
  3. A Moment In Life
  4. Letting Go
  5. One Chance
  6. Dangerous
  7. Fight To Be Free
  8. Open Your Heart
  9. Dream On
  10. Journeyman
  11. The Final Eclipse
  • Colin Peel
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


Only The Children Cry  EP
1993 Canyon Intl.
  1. Only The Children Cry
  2. Who's Life Is It Anyway
  3. A Moment In Life
  4. Turn The Tables
  • Mark Thompson-Smith
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


To The Power Of Ten  
1995 Canyon Intl.
  1. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
  2. Bring On The Night
  3. Ball Of Confusion
  4. Welcome To My Hollywood
  5. Another Time, Another Place
  6. To The Power Of Ten
  7. Little Angel
  8. Victory
  9. Only The Children Cry
  10. Night And Day
  11. Angry Man
  • Gary Barden
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


Captured Alive In Tokyo City  LIVE
1996 Canyon Intl.
  • Gary Barden
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Clive Burr


Forever In Time  
1998 Canyon Intl.
  1. Wasted Years
  2. The Messiah
  3. Best Years
  4. Blood Of An Angel
  5. Valley Of The Kings
  6. Changes
  7. Man Behind The Mask
  8. Remember My Name
  9. The Day The Sun Turned Cold
  10. Forever In Time
  • Tony O'Hora
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


Demorabilia  DEMO RE-RELEASE
1999 Canyon Intl.
  • Bernie Shaw
  • Tom Jackson
  • Tino Troy
  • Steve Carroll
  • Chris Troy
  • Don Garbett
  • Jon Bavin
  • Dave Potts
  • Clive Burr


Nowhere To Hide  
2000 Pony Canyon
  1. Nowhere To Hide
  2. Cruel Winter
  3. The Clocktower
  4. Can't Stop The Fire
  5. Future Of The World
  6. Whenever I'm Lost
  7. You'll Never Know
  8. River Of Hope
  9. Naked
  10. S.O.S
  • Tony O'Hora
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Bruce Bisland


The Journey Goes On  
2003 Pony Canyon
  1. Tonight
  2. The Escape
  3. The Journey Goes On
  4. Silent War
  5. Beast Within
  6. Hold On For Love
  7. If Tomorrow Never Comes
  8. Lost World
  9. The Voice
  10. Naked (re-recorded version)
  • John Sloman
  • Doogie White
  • Tino Troy
  • Dennis Stratton
  • Chris Troy
  • Martin Johnson


The Best Of Praying Mantis  COMPILATION
2004 Pony Canyon
  1. Cheated
  2. Can't See The Angels
  3. A Cry For The New World
  4. Letting Go
  5. Journeyman
  6. Only The Children Cry
  7. Turn The Tables
  8. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
  9. Best Years
  10. Forever In Time
  11. Nowhere To Hide
  12. Naked
  13. Captured City
  14. A Moment In Life


Sanctuary  
2009
  1. In Time
  2. Restless heart
  3. Tears in the rain
  4. So high
  5. Turn the tide/Lonely Way Home
  6. Touch the rainbow
  7. Threshold of a dream
  8. Playing god
  9. Broken Chains (Japanese release Only)
  10. Highway
  11. Sanctuary
  • Mike Freeland
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Benjamin Reid


Metalmorphosis  EP
2011
  1. Children of The Earth
  2. Praying Mantis
  3. Lovers to the Grave
  4. Panic in the Streets
  5. Captured City
  • Mike Freeland
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Benjamin Reid


Legacy  
2015 Frontiers
  1. Fight For Your Honour
  2. The One
  3. Believable
  4. Tokyo
  5. Better Man
  6. All I See
  7. Eyes Of A Child
  8. The Runner
  9. Against The World
  10. Fallen Angel
  11. Second Time Around
  • John Cuijpers
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Hans in't Zandt


Gravity  
2018 Frontiers
  • John Cuijpers
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Hans in't Zandt


Keep It Alive!  LIVE
2019


Katharsis  
2022
  1. Cry for the Nations
  2. Closer to Heaven
  3. Ain't No Rock 'n' Roll in Heaven
  4. Non Omnis Moriar
  5. Long Time Coming
  6. Sacrifice
  7. Wheels in Motion
  8. Masquerade
  9. Find Our Way Back Home
  10. Don't Call Us Now
  11. The Devil Never Changes
  • John Cuijpers
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Hans in't Zandt


Defiance  
2024 Frontiers
  • John Cuijpers
  • Tino Troy
  • Andy Burgess
  • Chris Troy
  • Hans in't Zandt



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