Label: HIGH ROLLER

 

The first steps of a new band are always something special … the first gig … the first record. »Invasion« is an extraordinary album by an extraordinary band. It's Manilla Road's debut platter. The very roots of what later would be called Epic Metal.

 

“Manilla Road formed in 1977 and we did our first show in Wichita Kansas that year“, explains founding member Mark “The Shark” Shelton. “The very first gig that we played was at a house for a private party. Then we started playing the club scene around Wichita and before we knew it Manilla Road was creating a bit of a stir in the local music scene. We were just about the only hard rock or metal band around that was writing and performing all original material.“

 

Manilla Road roughly had three years to gather the songs for their legendary debut album. »Invasion« was originally released in 1980 (on Roadster Records), with the material being composed between 1977 and 1979. During this period, there were only a handful of heavy bands active in America: The Rods, Riot and Anvil as probably the heaviest of the lot. But Mark Shelton's influences lay elsewhere: “Yeah, I did not even know of those bands when we were doing »Invasion«. Anvil is actually from Canada and I did not hear of Riot or The Rods until around 1982. At the time it was bands like UFO, Judas Priest, early Iron Maiden, The Scorpions, Hawkwind and Rush that I was listening to the most. Oh, I can't leave out the almighty Black Sabbath. That band alone influenced me more than any other I think.“

 

1. The Dream Goes On

2. Cat and Mouse

3. Far Side of the Sun

4. Street Jammer

5. Centurian War Games

6. The Empire