I remember Dan Swano saying YEARS ago, something along the lines of, “Just listen to Manilla Road. They have already done it all anyway.” They are one of his favorite bands.
I saw Mark in Greece in 2016. I was literally next to him throughout the whole concert. I was so sad when he passed as he was such an authentic metalhead. Thanks for that review Sarah. RIP Manilla Road..
I'd be down to hear Sarah do 20-30 minute video retrospectives. Her knowledge and passion shines through and her vids are always an instant click for me
Just been getting into Manilla Road recently and I’m totally blown away! They really do some of everything and I love the vibe of their albums. I’ve listened to everything up to Gates of Fire so far and the consistent quality from album to album is just amazing! They are quickly becoming one of my favourite bands.
I was in disbelief when I discovered this band, why they didn't become that popular is beyond me... Original/classic lineup was a power trio and I think Randy Foxe might be one of my all-time favorite drummers... Mark himself was a brilliant guitarist and underrated vocalist... I love how the songwriting can be in the same category as Iron Maiden, and Mark also developed a thrashy sound that gives them a lot of stylistic range...
Manilla Road is a fantastic band. I really should hunt down the vinyl for them, but I have the CDs. I particularly enjoy them because I am a Robert E. Howard/Conan the Barbarian fan and the band drew inspiration heavily from that source. I imagine the song Queen of the Black Coast as if Conan himself sung it.
I had never heard of Manilla Road until a twitch streamer I watch, Vargskelethor aka Vinesauce Joel, brought them and their music up multiple times on stream as his favorite band. At first I thought "so this is just another early 80s cheesy NWOBHM-inspired band with Skeletor on vocals?" but the more I listen the more I enjoy and appreciate the cheese factor and their commitment to a style that I see many, many bands in my scene take as inspiration today. Mark's sudden passing is truly tragic but it's great to see the spirit still live on. Great video. Also PS Joel has his own band Scythelord which is some truly awesome deathy thrash metal - check out their most recent single "Asclepius" from 2019 in particular.
RIP Shark, this is awesome that Banger is recognizing these guys. One of the most unique bands in the history of metal. Obscure? Yes. But extremely underrated and never got the recognition they deserved. These guys did it for the love and nothing else for many many years.
The first and sadly only time I've ever seen Manilla Road was at their last Kansas City show in Oct 2017. I had only just heard about them when the local band Vänlade announced they were opening the show. I became an instant fan and seeing Mark on stage shredding away just completely blew my mind.
Hadn’t given Manila Road much time outside of a few songs on an Epic Heavy Metal playlist, but this video has me excited to listen to some albums! Hoping to see everyone’s favourite albums to know where to start!
83-87 are definitely the classics, I'd add Mysterium and Playground of the Damned out of the more recent ones, they have that same old-school feel to them
Well i checked out manilla road - ❤️❤️❤️❤️ wow i wish i knew about them before!!! Classic!!!. When i was looking for metal on youtube... this is the stuff i was hoping for!!.
I remembered listening to Manilla Road’s ‘Far side of the Sun’ for the first time it was like a epic journey. Nice to see a video recount of Manilla Road and Mark Shelton’s legacy!🎸🤟
Check out Mark's project Hellwell with E.C. Hellwell who was mentioned in the video if you're in need of more Manilla Road. They put out two IMO great records with cool cover art as well.
I saw them on their tour to London in 2017, they played in the Boston Arms venue (Tufnel Park tube station), an awesome band from the USA, I have a few of their CDs, and funny enough I also record my heavy metal music in cassette tapes as I believe the sound coming from cassettes is more natural and smooth than a lot of the new digital media, but also still I use a lot of MD (minidiscs) for my playback at home.
I first got into Road in the mid-90s, after seeing them mentioned in Sentinal Steel zine. It took a few more years to track down their releases up to that time, some of which were available directly from Leviathan Records (the US distributor for Black Dragon), others on the secondhand market, others as bootlegs. Open the Gates was probably the heaviest album of 1984, every bit as brutal as Celtic Frost or Slayer at the time, but with far superior musicianship.
The first album of theirs I came across was The Deluge. If Skeltor had a band this would be their album....powerful to say the least, but Skeletor on vocals is love it or hate it.
Hi Sarah; best wishes for Smoulder; unfortunately I have unsubscribed because of some scrawny dude's hypocrisy and blatant cowardice over DSO's music . It's a pity. I'll miss your lively and brilliantly presented reviews. All the best.
In my opinion vinyl has the best sound, but cassette is a close second and the advantage to cassettes is that they don’t skip when you jump and thrash around. Just my opinion.
A good band that never made it big. Alot of people never heard of them. Production is all over the place and not always good. Musically they go from early metal to hard rock. Early stuff is similar to Rush.
The band is so obscure and niche that I can't imagine them having a major influence on any type of metal community or scene. If anything they can be commended for their longetivity but the average metal fan and music fan would have never heard of this band if you brought them up. I would even venture to guess that there are no widely known metal performers such as iron maiden or Metallica or Slayer or Pantera or Korn etc that ever heard of or would name check Manila road Let alone site them as any type of influence. Who exactly did they influence? That anyone in the cultural sphere has heard of?
Enjoy your corporate bubble. That's quite the bunch of sad namedropping. The trad epic metal scene is huge and every single band in there is in some way influenced by Manilla Road.
@@staalhard666 lol. Corporate bubble? It's just the truth. Send me a link to any type of article or resource where anyone of renowned mentions Manila road as an influence. And then we'll talk. Enjoy your elitist snobbery.
@@willd4731 I'm not the elitist snob. You're the clueless wannabe because you stick to what corporate labels are serving you. What other goofy sh*t you're into? Babymetal? Sabaton? Steel Panther? Get outta here, weekend warrior. Manilla Road has never been about fortune, fame or renown. Their music is not easy listening developed for the masses. Or radiofriendly MTV Headbangers Ball sh*t. You will never understand what heavy metal is about.
Because you claim the most mainstream metal bands around probably wouldn't call Manilla Road an influence they can't possibly be influential? What a weird stance to take
I remember Dan Swano saying YEARS ago, something along the lines of, “Just listen to Manilla Road. They have already done it all anyway.” They are one of his favorite bands.
Sarah is absolutely correct.
They are indeed a ''thinking man's metal'' band.
Nailed it.
Love these episodes. Anything with Sarah ill watch shes always very knowledgeable
Sarah knows her shit
I saw Mark in Greece in 2016. I was literally next to him throughout the whole concert. I was so sad when he passed as he was such an authentic metalhead. Thanks for that review Sarah. RIP Manilla Road..
I sold my soul to MANILLA ROAD!!
Good deal
@@BangerTV my favorite series tho and keep up the good content.
One of the best episodes ever! Manilla Road and Shark are true inspiration for all of us. Up the Hammers! 🤘🏻⚔️🍻
Legendary
I'd be down to hear Sarah do 20-30 minute video retrospectives. Her knowledge and passion shines through and her vids are always an instant click for me
Cameron Robb-MacKay seconded!!
Just been getting into Manilla Road recently and I’m totally blown away! They really do some of everything and I love the vibe of their albums. I’ve listened to everything up to Gates of Fire so far and the consistent quality from album to album is just amazing! They are quickly becoming one of my favourite bands.
''Crystal Logic'' my favorite album
SAME!!!!
Your Cirith Ungol video introduced me to a great band I can't stop listening to. I'm going to have to check out Manilla Road now. Thank you.
I was in disbelief when I discovered this band, why they didn't become that popular is beyond me... Original/classic lineup was a power trio and I think Randy Foxe might be one of my all-time favorite drummers... Mark himself was a brilliant guitarist and underrated vocalist... I love how the songwriting can be in the same category as Iron Maiden, and Mark also developed a thrashy sound that gives them a lot of stylistic range...
This guy gets it ^^^
Manilla Road is a fantastic band. I really should hunt down the vinyl for them, but I have the CDs. I particularly enjoy them because I am a Robert E. Howard/Conan the Barbarian fan and the band drew inspiration heavily from that source. I imagine the song Queen of the Black Coast as if Conan himself sung it.
I had never heard of Manilla Road until a twitch streamer I watch, Vargskelethor aka Vinesauce Joel, brought them and their music up multiple times on stream as his favorite band. At first I thought "so this is just another early 80s cheesy NWOBHM-inspired band with Skeletor on vocals?" but the more I listen the more I enjoy and appreciate the cheese factor and their commitment to a style that I see many, many bands in my scene take as inspiration today. Mark's sudden passing is truly tragic but it's great to see the spirit still live on. Great video. Also PS Joel has his own band Scythelord which is some truly awesome deathy thrash metal - check out their most recent single "Asclepius" from 2019 in particular.
Scythelord rules
Cheese, eh?
lol funny i've been jamming a lot of Smoulder, Cirith Ungol, and Manilla Road this week
Mark The Shark!!!! Manilla Road are one of the kings of Metal and an inspiration for DIY bands. Love them to bits... RIP Mark.
Mark Shelton was a great guy! He would always hang around with the fans on the euro festivals without a care in the world..
Greatest metal band ever RIP mark
RIP Shark, this is awesome that Banger is recognizing these guys. One of the most unique bands in the history of metal. Obscure? Yes. But extremely underrated and never got the recognition they deserved. These guys did it for the love and nothing else for many many years.
The first and sadly only time I've ever seen Manilla Road was at their last Kansas City show in Oct 2017. I had only just heard about them when the local band Vänlade announced they were opening the show. I became an instant fan and seeing Mark on stage shredding away just completely blew my mind.
Such an amazing live experience
Hadn’t given Manila Road much time outside of a few songs on an Epic Heavy Metal playlist, but this video has me excited to listen to some albums! Hoping to see everyone’s favourite albums to know where to start!
Definitely start with crystal logic, then try open the gates, the deluge, and mystification.
83-87 are definitely the classics, I'd add Mysterium and Playground of the Damned out of the more recent ones, they have that same old-school feel to them
Well i checked out manilla road - ❤️❤️❤️❤️ wow i wish i knew about them before!!! Classic!!!. When i was looking for metal on youtube... this is the stuff i was hoping for!!.
I remembered listening to Manilla Road’s ‘Far side of the Sun’ for the first time it was like a epic journey. Nice to see a video recount of Manilla Road and Mark Shelton’s legacy!🎸🤟
love this band my first music purchase was The Deluge RIP Mark Shelton
The greatest band of all time.
Check out Mark's project Hellwell with E.C. Hellwell who was mentioned in the video if you're in need of more Manilla Road. They put out two IMO great records with cool cover art as well.
3 years late but I feel compelled to point out that E.C. Hellwell was just Mark's nom de plume for his horror novels
Love this format and about time Manilla Road got their mention here
Kickass series, can't wait to hear more
Thanks for watching!
I saw them on their tour to London in 2017, they played in the Boston Arms venue (Tufnel Park tube station), an awesome band from the USA, I have a few of their CDs, and funny enough I also record my heavy metal music in cassette tapes as I believe the sound coming from cassettes is more natural and smooth than a lot of the new digital media, but also still I use a lot of MD (minidiscs) for my playback at home.
I first got into Road in the mid-90s, after seeing them mentioned in Sentinal Steel zine. It took a few more years to track down their releases up to that time, some of which were available directly from Leviathan Records (the US distributor for Black Dragon), others on the secondhand market, others as bootlegs. Open the Gates was probably the heaviest album of 1984, every bit as brutal as Celtic Frost or Slayer at the time, but with far superior musicianship.
I don't like cassettes as a format, however this video is a great format. Keep doing the good work!
Thank you Sarah for giving these guys there proper due.
You can always count on her to slay it!
I love every Manilla Road Album, Mark Shelton‘s Solo album, the two Hellwell albums and Riddlemaster- just awesome Metal through and through
I really enjoyed the show...thanks
Thanks for watching!!!
Swords of Steel book bundle ordered from DMR Books, Thanks Sarah!
You will NOT regret that
Ironsword tapes are now available through Alma Mater records :)
Post-mortem Apocalypse is great! Got to get those tapes, even Crystal Logic is included in cassette reissue.
The first album of theirs I came across was The Deluge. If Skeltor had a band this would be their album....powerful to say the least, but Skeletor on vocals is love it or hate it.
I didn't know the portuguese band and I am from Portugal. I have to check it out! Thanks! :)
Love your show. You’re knowledgeable & fun.
Dig me no grave. Shelton died doing what he loved.
The Allfather of US All 😢
my first real contact with manila road was listening to a great cover by a band named smoulder 😳
BOOM!
For the Nth time - it's Ravensire, not shire. Forget Frodo. But Sarah pronounced it correctly, though.
Nobody wrote or sang quite exactly like Mark The Shark Shelton. Shame I never got to see them live.
An absolute legend
For an Overkill Unearthed, can you guys do an Acid Bath album? Either one is fine with me.
On the list !
Hi Sarah; best wishes for Smoulder; unfortunately I have unsubscribed because of some scrawny dude's hypocrisy and blatant cowardice over DSO's music . It's a pity. I'll miss your lively and brilliantly presented reviews. All the best.
Max Birbaum is a great lyricist and I bet he writes a great fantasy story.
Sarah had better review the new Eternal Champion on Banger when it drops!!!
FINGERS CROSSED!
In my opinion vinyl has the best sound, but cassette is a close second and the advantage to cassettes is that they don’t skip when you jump and thrash around. Just my opinion.
Sarah, did you say "kismet" at around 0:30? If so, I am VERY impressed because not many Anglophones know that word.
A good band that never made it big. Alot of people never heard of them. Production is all over the place and not always good. Musically they go from early metal to hard rock. Early stuff is similar to Rush.
Ravenshire or Ravensiren?
Ravensire
RIP Mark the shark
what's the idea of cassetes? the sound quality is shitty.
We want more new and undiscovered band no tape. And not spending time on old re-releases sorry
The band is so obscure and niche that I can't imagine them having a major influence on any type of metal community or scene. If anything they can be commended for their longetivity but the average metal fan and music fan would have never heard of this band if you brought them up.
I would even venture to guess that there are no widely known metal performers such as iron maiden or Metallica or Slayer or Pantera or Korn etc that ever heard of or would name check Manila road Let alone site them as any type of influence.
Who exactly did they influence? That anyone in the cultural sphere has heard of?
I agree with you on the influence thing, still there a great band
Enjoy your corporate bubble. That's quite the bunch of sad namedropping. The trad epic metal scene is huge and every single band in there is in some way influenced by Manilla Road.
@@staalhard666 lol. Corporate bubble? It's just the truth. Send me a link to any type of article or resource where anyone of renowned mentions Manila road as an influence. And then we'll talk. Enjoy your elitist snobbery.
@@willd4731 I'm not the elitist snob. You're the clueless wannabe because you stick to what corporate labels are serving you. What other goofy sh*t you're into? Babymetal? Sabaton? Steel Panther? Get outta here, weekend warrior. Manilla Road has never been about fortune, fame or renown. Their music is not easy listening developed for the masses. Or radiofriendly MTV Headbangers Ball sh*t. You will never understand what heavy metal is about.
Because you claim the most mainstream metal bands around probably wouldn't call Manilla Road an influence they can't possibly be influential? What a weird stance to take
Sarah marry me 😄