Edguy - Mandrake (2001)

intothewellsabyss
Nov 28, 2022
2 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On November 27, 2001, Edguy released their fifth full-length album Mandrake, via AFM Records.

It is a varied album, exploring many styles of Power Metal. It was their last studio album for AFM Records, in which the band later signed a contract with Nuclear Blast.

The album was accompanied by their first promo video, for the track All the Clowns, as well as the Painting on the Wall single.

The Mandrake album also led to the band's first headlining tour.

Three shows were recorded in Europe and were the basis for Edguy's first live album, Burning Down the Opera – Live.

The band's contract with AFM had expired by this point, which led to them signing with Nuclear Blast in late 2003.

Critical Reception:

In 2017, Loudwire ranked it as the 20th best Power Metal album of all time.

“These five guys from Germany are still excellent in their Heavy/Power Metal and with Mandrake, they have released their masterpiece so far. Reaching his best level [both in composing and singing], Tobias Sammet is now clearly set up as one of the best singers in Metal. Besides, Mandrake shows us that Edguy is a serious candidate to be the world's leading band in Power Metal.” - Metal Storm (September 16, 2003)

“With Mandrake, Edguy is poised to be on par with bands such as Symphony X, Stratovarius, Iced Earth, Rhapsody, and Blind Guardian. One could easily call this the bands crowning achievement, and one of the years best Prog-Metal albums as well.” — SeaofTranquility.org (October 27, 2001)

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells