Today, William Øgaard from power metal band Lost Dawning, founded in 2020 and based in Aalborg (Denmark), answers our questions about Manilla Road and Mark Shelton. Enjoy reading!
Would you classify Manilla Road as an important source of inspiraton for your music?
William Øgaard: The music I write with Lost Dawning doesn’t resemble Manilla Road very much. But when it comes to inspiration on a personal level, then yes. Hugely! Mark Shelton’s guitar playing and approach to songwriting has been a really big inspiration for me. I never really had any guitar tutoring, so I learned a lot from playing along to Manilla Road records. Shark had the ability to write complex, intelligent and truly fantastic music with a primitive metal approach, which is something that I always admired. I wouldn’t have been the musician I am today without the influence of Shark!
Can you point out a special moment that you experienced with Manilla Road?
The first time I heard the Crystal Logic album. It was unlike anything I had ever heard before and it just blew me away!
Shark had the ability to write complex, intelligent and truly fantastic music with a primitive metal approach.
William about Mark Shelton’s songwriting.
What makes Manilla Road special in your opinion?
Apart from the amazing music, which is obviously the most important thing, then the fact that they never stopped being themselves. They managed to retain a strong cult-following while still writing exactly the music that they wanted to write.
What are your three favourite Manilla Road albums?
Crystal Logic and Open the Gates are tied on first place, with Mystification right after!
What’s the most underrated Manilla Road album in your opinion?
Gates of Fire!
What are your five favourite Manilla Road tracks?
- «Road of Kings»
- «Necropolis»
- «Hour of the Dragon»
- «Flaming Metal System»
- «Heavy Metal to the World»
What’s the most underrated Manilla Road track in your opinion?
«Riddle of Steel».
Which Manilla Road track moves you the most emotionally?
«Road of Kings». The lyrics always really spoke to me and the song is just so powerful and emotional.
What’s your favourite solo/lead played by Mark Shelton?
Probably the intro to «Flaming Metal System». It’s just unbelievable!
How would you define the term epic metal?
Honestly, I think it’s about the atmosphere that it has. It’s a bit more complex and the songs feel like big productions while still retaining the primitive songwriting approach and raw sound.
I think it’s about the atmosphere that it has.
William about epic metal.
Are there any young bands inspired by Manilla Road that you appreciate?
I really love Eternal Champion and Visigoth. They’re doing an awesome job at keeping epic metal alive.
What do you generally think of Manilla Road‘s legacy and the current epic metal scene?
I think epic metal is having a resurgence and you can really see Manilla Road‘s influence on all of these young bands. We wouldn’t have the same epic metal scene today without Manilla Road!