Open the Gates is the fourth album by the American heavy metal band Manilla Road. It was released in 1985 on the Black Dragon record label, rather than the band's own label, Roadster Records, which they had used on their previous releases.

Open the Gates
Studio album by
Released1985
Recorded1984
StudioMiller Studio, North Newton, Kansas
Genre
Length52:45
LabelBlack Dragon
ProducerManilla Road, Max Merhoff, Rick Fisher
Manilla Road chronology
Crystal Logic
(1983)
Open the Gates
(1985)
The Deluge
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Kerrang![3]
Rock Hard7.0/10[4]

In 2019, Metal Hammer ranked it as the 6th best power metal album of all time.[1]

Track listing

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All songs written by Mark Shelton.

  1. "Metalstorm" – 5:17
  2. "Open the Gates" – 2:20
  3. "Astronomica" – 4:59
  4. "Weavers of the Web" – 4:17
  5. "The Ninth Wave" – 9:30
  6. "Heavy Metal to the World" – 3:19
  7. "The Fires of Mars" – 6:13
  8. "Road of Kings" – 5:46
  9. "Hour of the Dragon" – 4:44
  10. "Witches Brew" – 6:20

Note

  • The 2001 digipak includes live versions of "Open the Gates" and "Witches Brew".

Personnel

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Band
Production
  • Manilla Road – producer
  • Max Merhoff – assistant producer
  • Rick Fisher – assistant producer
  • Larry Funk – engineering
  • Eric Larnoy – illustration
  • Nick Newbill – artwork

References

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  1. ^ a b Chantler, Chris (November 14, 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Manilla Road Open the Gates review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  3. ^ Wall, Mick (November 1, 1985). "Manilla Road 'Open the Gates'". Kerrang!. Vol. 106. Morgan Grampian. p. 27.
  4. ^ Stratmann, Holger (1985). "Review Album: Manilla Road — Open The Gates". Rock Hard (in German). No. 12.