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Praying Mantis

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Cheated - Guitar Tab

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Band Overview

Praying Mantis are one of the foundational bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), formed in 1973 in London by brothers Tino and Chris Troy. They were part of the same fertile scene that launched Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon, and even shared early lineups with Maiden (the Troy brothers played with Steve Harris before the bands went separate ways). While they never achieved the same commercial heights as some of their peers, Praying Mantis carved out a distinct niche with their melodic approach to heavy metal, blending twin-guitar harmonies, polished vocal hooks, and a sense of songcraft that leaned closer to AOR and melodic rock than raw thrash. For guitarists, Praying Mantis offer a masterclass in the melodic side of NWOBHM. Their guitar work prioritizes harmony leads, tasteful vibrato, and well-constructed solos over sheer speed or aggression. The dual-guitar interplay between various lineups (including notable players like Andy Mayze-era guitarists and longtime contributor Tino Troy) focuses on tight harmonized runs in thirds and sixths, reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and early Iron Maiden but with a smoother, more polished edge. If you love the twin-guitar attack but want something more melodic and accessible than galloping power metal, this is your band. The difficulty level for learning Praying Mantis material is intermediate. You will not find extreme shred passages or complex time signatures, but you will need solid alternate picking, clean vibrato, and the ability to play harmonized lead lines accurately in time with another guitar part. Rhythm work relies on classic power chords, palm-muted chugging, and open chord arpeggios with a clean to mildly overdriven tone. Their songs are excellent practice material for guitarists looking to develop their ear for melody within a Hard Rock framework, improve their phrasing, and build confidence with twin-lead arrangements without being overwhelmed by technical demands.

What Makes Praying Mantis Essential for Guitar Players

Twin-guitar harmony leads are the signature of Praying Mantis. Expect harmonized runs in thirds and sixths that require precise timing and intonation between two guitar parts, making them excellent practice for anyone wanting to develop their dual-lead chops.
Rhythm guitar work blends palm-muted power chords with open, ringing chord voicings. Many songs transition between driving, crunchy verse sections and more expansive, cleanly arpeggiated choruses, so you need to be comfortable switching between distorted and clean tones mid-song.
Solos tend to be melodic and singable rather than technically extreme. Pentatonic and natural minor scales dominate, with an emphasis on phrasing, bends with controlled vibrato, and occasional legato runs. This makes their leads great etudes for developing musical taste over raw speed.
The NWOBHM gallop rhythm appears in their heavier tracks, requiring tight downpicking and palm-muting control similar to early Iron Maiden, though Praying Mantis generally keeps the tempos more moderate and groove-oriented.
String bending accuracy is essential. Many of their lead lines rely on half-step and whole-step bends that need to land perfectly in pitch, often sustained with a slow, wide vibrato. Sloppy bends will immediately expose weak technique in these melodic contexts.

Did You Know?

Brothers Tino and Chris Troy were part of the same early London metal scene as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. They all played together briefly before the bands split, making Praying Mantis essentially a sibling band to one of the biggest metal acts in history.

Praying Mantis appeared on the legendary 'Metal for Muthas' compilation in 1980 alongside Iron Maiden, which was essentially the NWOBHM's debut showcase and helped launch the entire movement into the public eye.

Despite being active since 1973, the band has gone through numerous lineup changes, with Tino Troy remaining the constant guitar presence. This means the guitar tone and style have evolved across decades while maintaining a melodic core identity.

Their debut album 'Time Tells No Lies' (1981) was recorded at Zomba Studios with a relatively modest setup by today's standards, relying heavily on Marshall amplification and Les Paul-style guitars to capture that warm, thick NWOBHM tone.

Praying Mantis have maintained a strong following in Japan, where melodic metal and AOR-tinged hard rock have always been hugely popular. Their Japanese releases sometimes contain bonus tracks with alternate guitar solos not found on the UK versions.

Tino Troy has cited Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson as primary influences on the band's twin-guitar approach, which explains the emphasis on harmonized melodies over competing solos.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Time Tells No Lies 1981

This is the essential Praying Mantis album for guitarists. Tracks like 'Cheated' and 'Running for Tomorrow' showcase their twin-guitar harmonies and melodic soloing at their purest. It is a perfect album for practicing harmonized lead lines, controlled vibrato, and the balance between heavy rhythm work and clean melodic passages.

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A Cry for the New World 1993

The band's comeback album features a more polished, AOR-influenced production that highlights the guitar layering. Songs feature arpeggiated clean intros, crunchy mid-gain rhythm tones, and solos with a more refined melodic approach. Great for guitarists looking to work on dynamics and transitioning between clean and driven tones.

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Sanctuary 2009

A modern-era album that blends classic NWOBHM energy with contemporary production values. The guitar tones are bigger and more defined, making it easier to hear and learn individual parts. Songs like 'Sanctuary' and 'The One' feature accessible but rewarding lead work that builds confidence for intermediate players.

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Tone & Gear

Guitar

Tino Troy has primarily been associated with Gibson Les Paul and Les Paul-style guitars throughout the band's career, favoring the thick, sustain-rich tone of a mahogany body and set neck. In later years, various Praying Mantis guitarists have also used Fender Stratocasters for cleaner passages, but the core tone is rooted in humbucker-equipped, Les Paul-style instruments that deliver warm midrange and smooth sustain for their melodic leads.

Amp

Classic Marshall amplification defines the Praying Mantis sound. During the early NWOBHM era, the band relied on Marshall JMP and JCM800 heads pushing 4x12 cabinets, driven into natural breakup for that warm, crunchy British tone. The gain is moderate by modern standards, sitting in a sweet spot that allows pick dynamics to come through while still delivering enough saturation for heavy riffing and singing lead tones.

Pickups

Standard PAF-style humbuckers in the 7.5k to 9k output range are the foundation of their guitar tone. These medium-output pickups provide enough warmth and thickness for the heavy sections without compressing the signal too much, which is critical for their clean arpeggios and dynamic lead passages. The neck pickup is used extensively for smooth, vocal-like solo tones.

Effects & Chain

Praying Mantis keep the effects chain simple and traditional. A touch of analog delay or tape echo on solos adds depth without washing out the note definition. Chorus is occasionally used on clean passages for a wider stereo spread. The philosophy is largely straight-into-the-amp, letting the interaction between the guitar's volume knob and the Marshall's natural overdrive handle most of the tonal variation. No heavy modulation or modern high-gain processing here.

Recommended Gear

Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Praying Mantis uses Stratocasters selectively for cleaner passages, leveraging their bright single-coil clarity to contrast with the Les Paul's warmth. The thinner body and easier access to upper frets support their melodic lead work without the heavy sustain of their primary instruments.

Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Tino Troy's signature weapon, the Les Paul Standard delivers the thick mahogany warmth and smooth sustain that defines Praying Mantis's core NWOBHM tone. Its PAF-style humbuckers and set neck create the perfect foundation for both crushing riffs and singing, vocal-like solos.

Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom offers the same warm midrange and sustain-rich character as the Standard, with slightly enhanced versatility through its additional pickup configuration. This instrument supports Praying Mantis's dynamic playing style, from heavy rhythms to delicate arpeggios.

Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800 is essential to Praying Mantis's signature British tone, providing natural breakup and warm crunch when driven moderately without excessive gain. This amp lets pick dynamics shine through while delivering the crunchy saturation needed for their heavy riffing and melodic lead passages.

Pedal

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay

This analog delay adds subtle depth to Praying Mantis's solos without compromising note definition, complementing their minimalist effects philosophy. The warm, tape-like character preserves the vocal quality of their neck pickup tones while enhancing spatial dimension.

How to Practice Praying Mantis on GuitarZone

Every Praying Mantis song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice Cheated - Guitar Tab