Manilla Road - To Kill a King. 2017 USA-Kansas

I knew this was going to be a tough listen. I was all of 19 when I visited my favorite import/indie store in Dallas (Metamorphosis for those old-timers that were there). On the wall they were featuring a most fascinating looking new album. I'd never heard of the band, but it just looked so cool, I had to buy it. It was during the Christmas break from college... 1983. Yes, that album was Crystal Logic (still own that exact LP copy). And from that point forward Manilla Road were intertwined with various personal life events. I even went to band leader Mark Shelton's house in Wichita back in 1991. At the time, he was very excited about his new project Circus Maximus, something that didn't really take off, except for one album, released against his will as Manilla Road.

As is often the case, we all go in different directions. Shelton himself took close to a decade off from recording. My career and personal life took me away from being deeply immersed into the music world, moving more towards strictly a remote music collector. When Manilla Road resurfaced in 2001, I continued to follow the group and buy their albums, but not in the same fanatical way. No more contact, or seeing them live.

During this time, I watched with fascination as Manilla Road went from a barely known metal band that only a few of us knew, to that of true legend. It pleases me no end to see those much younger than I truly appreciate the music that Manilla Road has put out all these years. That legend will continue to grow, this I'm sure of.

To Kill a King will likely be the last Manilla Road album. It wouldn't make sense to maintain the brand, as Shelton was the brand. There was no opportunity for hand off, or to cultivate a successor. Mark Shelton's death came as a shock to us all. He didn't die early (relatively) the way many musicians unfortunately do via self-destructive behavior. Rather he went out the way true warriors do - in the middle of the battle. In effect he died of heat exhaustion, literally playing his heart out for his fans. It was a fitting way to go, though far too early for a man that seemed to never lose his way - where creativity continued to spring like a fountain.

The irony here is that To Kill a King was a look backward - to the very roots of Manilla Road. At the time when they were just as much a proggy hard rock band as anything heavy metal. One could easily hear To Kill a King as a lost album between Metal and Crystal Logic, with some excursions into more modern metal ('The Arena' in particular). To Kill a King is not Manilla Road's most exciting or innovative album, but it's great to hear a turn-back-the-clock album such as this. Perhaps Shelton subconsciously knew his fate, and wanted one last shot at an older style.

If you've never heard Manilla Road, and you're not really a metal fan (in the more modern sense), then To Kill a King would be a great way to immerse yourself into this most fascinating world. And then perhaps work your way through the catalog starting at Crystal Logic up to their masterpiece (IMO) The Deluge.

One fun fact for you: If you drive east on I-70 from Denver towards Kansas, there's an exit for a... Manilla Road. I've always wondered about that.

Now I'm afraid it's time to say goodbye, Mark Shelton. Thank you for everything.

CD: 2017 Golden Core (Germany). Tri-fold digipak with a booklet containing lyrics and photos. A very nice package overall.

11/30/19 (new entry)