- Shovel & Rope's 7th full length studio album, Manticore, on CD

The songs and stories that make up Manticore are visceral, bold, and at times deeply personal. And while all of those adjectives could be used to describe the South Carolina based duo as a whole, this time around it rings true in a way that hits differently, or at least harder. Perhaps everything hits harder for everyone these days. And while most of these songs were written before the pandemic was on America’s radar, they were all recorded at a time when everyone was inside. It takes aim at the human experience, and does so without pulling a single punch: reflections on idol worship, homelessness, social justice, the experience of fierce parental love, and marital strife are all on the menu here; and in true American fashion, the helpings are plentiful.

The album’s title, Manticore, at its most simplistic is a playful combination of a Leo and a Scorpio combined into one beast. A simple google search of the word will bring up depictions that are comical, fantastical, intimidating, aggressive, playful, beautiful, and even mildly terrifying. At their best, all of these can be said of Shovels & Rope, but no matter which adjective feels most appropriate in a given song, show, or album, it is always powerful. Thankfully Manticore finds them at their (weary) best. It feels like a hard won summation of the band’s first act, shedding away notions the public may have had of them, or that they had of themselves. The second act of Shovels & Rope looks beautifully weathered, wiser, and shining a bright light at the end of this very dark tunnel.