Manigance is a new band in the metal scene, put together by members from a various other French bands in 1995. Now they have recorded a 6 track CD with melodic power heavy metal with some progressive touches. I don't know why they only did a 6 track CD when they could have done a full-length album. This makes the CD rather short, only 31 minutes. Not much music for the money (in length), but really good music and musicians instead, making this a really well done debut. Their influences can be found in such different groups as Dream Theater, Toto, Pretty Maids, Van Halen and Whitesnake.

All the vocals are done in French by a very strong singer. It's a good move to sing in French to avoid the French accent you can hear with, for example, the French band H˙dra. The singer is really above the average, with a touch of David Coverdale. He's the kind of singer you wished had joined Iron Maiden instead of Blaze Bayley. The guitarists and the drummer are really good too, and the album has got a clean nice sound.

This album is really exciting, but unfortunately they don't have as strong melodies as their fellow countrymen Arsenic, H˙dra and Trust has. Although they are very technically skilled it will take some time before you begin to recognise the individual tracks. But after all, this is a good starter for the future!