#1 · 1983
Defines Manilla Road's signature epic heavy metal style with mythological and fantasy themes.
9 tracksRoadster RecordsHeavy Metal
Artist page · 07/07/2026
Manilla Road
Manilla Road is an American heavy metal band formed in Wichita, Kansas, in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Mark Shelton. Their style blends epic metal with elements of thrash and progressive rock across decades.
13Albums on Vinyles.com
391Discogs releases
65kLast.fm listeners
About
Manilla Road, Epic US heavy metal from Wichita, cult status since 1977.
Over 17 vinyl releases including 80s classics and 2000s revivals; collector prices range from €20 to €300 for limited editions.
Manilla Road forged a distinctive niche in heavy metal starting with their 1980 debut album Invasion, released on their own Roadster Records. After early progressive and proto-metal leanings, they established an epic metal sound by the mid-1980s with albums like Crystal Logic (1983), Open the Gates (1985), and The Deluge (1986). Lyrical themes draw from Norse mythology, Arthurian legend, and fantasy literature. Despite lineup changes and a hiatus in the 1990s, the band reformed for a second wave of releases in the 2000s, including Atlantis Rising (2001) and Voyager (2008). Vinyl pressings on labels such as High Roller Records and Golden Core reflect ongoing collector interest, with original and reissue formats available worldwide.
Their 17 vinyl releases span studio albums, live…
Discography
Manilla Road — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Golden Core · 2020Live At Up The Hammers 2018
Live
Golden Core · 2017To Kill A King
Studio
High Roller Records · 2016Dreams Of Eschaton
Studio
Golden Core · 2015The Blessed Curse
Studio
Shadow Kingdom Records · 2013Mysterium
Studio
Shadow Kingdom Records · 2011Playground Of The Damned
Studio
High Roller Records · 2009After Midnight Live
Studio
High Roller Records · 2008Voyager
Studio
Battle Cry Records · 2005Gates Of Fire
Studio
Monster Records · 2002Mark Of The Beast
Studio
Iron Glory Records · 2002Spiral Castle
Studio
Iron Glory Records · 2001Atlantis Rising
Studio
Black Dragon Records · 1992The Circus Maximus
Studio
Black Dragon Records · 1990The Courts Of Chaos
Studio
Black Dragon Records · 1988Roadkill (Live)
Live
Leviathan Records · 1988Out Of The Abyss
Studio
Black Dragon Records · 1987Mystification
Studio
Black Dragon Records · 1986The Deluge
Studio
Roadster Records · 1983Crystal Logic
Studio
Roadster Records · 1982Metal
Studio
Roadster Records · 1980Invasion
Studio
Studio album
Live / EP
Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Manilla Road's career.
01
Necropolis
·
02
Crystal Logic
·
03
The Riddle Master
·
04
Feeling Free Again
·
05
The Ram
·
06
Prologue
·
07
The Veils of Negative Existence
·
08
Astronomica
·
The essentials
The 3 Manilla Road albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
#2 · 2001
Concept album centered on a mythic war involving Atlantis, available in multiple vinyl versions including high-value originals.
14 tracksIron Glory RecordsGerman pressings
#3 · 1990
Marks the last studio album before the band's hiatus; original test pressing is a sought-after collector's item.
8 tracksBlack Dragon RecordsFrench test pressing
Go further
Artists similar to Manilla Road
Artists who share part of Manilla Road's musical DNA.
Collectors
For vinyl die-hards
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
Market values (source: Discogs)
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
To Kill A King
Market position
i
Min price 20 €Max price 20 €
Average price
20,49 €
Only 26 copies for sale on Discogs
71 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Dreams Of Eschaton
Market position
i
Min price 29 €Max price 47 €
Average price
32,43 €
Only 7 copies for sale on Discogs
109 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Atlantis Rising
Market position
i
Min price 25 €Max price 250 €
Average price
101,00 €
Only 9 copies for sale on Discogs
142 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
The Circus Maximus
Market position
i
Min price 34 €Max price 300 €
Average price
40,00 €
Only 6 copies for sale on Discogs
72 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
The Courts Of Chaos
Market position
i
Min price 19 €Max price 220 €
Average price
69,32 €
Only 12 copies for sale on Discogs
348 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Mystification
Market position
i
Min price 15 €Max price 110 €
Average price
52,63 €
Only 24 copies for sale on Discogs
375 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Manilla Road
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
The Courts Of Chaos was my first true masterpiece.— Mark Shelton
01Early years
Formation in Wichita with high school friends in 1977
Mark 'The Shark' Shelton founded Manilla Road in 1977 with Benny Munkirs, Rick Fisher, and brothers Robert and Scott Park, initiating their journey in local bars.
02Recording
Invasion album released on Roadster Records in 1980
The debut album Invasion was independently released by the band in 1980 on their own label Roadster Records, showcasing their proto-heavy metal roots.
03Lineup change
Introduction of drummer Randy Foxe
New drummer Randy Foxe joined the band for their mid-1980s albums, bringing a thrash-oriented style and appearing on classics such as Crystal Logic and Open The Gates.
04Hiatus and reforming
Shelton's solo project 'The Circus Maximus' and later reformation
Though The Circus Maximus (1992) was a solo venture by Mark Shelton, it was released as Manilla Road, followed by a decade hiatus before regrouping for further albums in the 2000s.
05Collector interest
Limited vinyl editions commanding high prices
Limited edition and original pressings of albums like The Circus Maximus can reach up to €300 among collectors, reflecting Manilla Road’s cult vinyl status.
Records by Manilla Road
See all
From
$33.40
View details
From
$26.61
View details
FAQ
FAQ: Manilla Road on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
What years was Manilla Road active?
Manilla Road was active from 1977 until 2018, including a hiatus in the 1990s.
Which Manilla Road albums are iconic for vinyl collectors?
Key vinyl albums include Crystal Logic (1983), Atlantis Rising (2001), and The Courts Of Chaos (1990), noted for their influence and collector demand.
Are original pressings of Manilla Road expensive?
Original pressings, especially limited editions and test pressings, can range from €20 to over €300 depending on rarity and condition.
What genres best describe Manilla Road's vinyl catalog?
The band’s vinyl releases span epic heavy metal, thrash influences, and elements of progressive and power metal.
Where are Manilla Road vinyl records commonly pressed?
Most Manilla Road vinyl pressings today come from Germany and France, with notable labels like High Roller Records and Black Dragon Records.
Can I find Manilla Road vinyl records in French stores?
Yes, France is home to some original pressings such as a test pressing of The Courts Of Chaos on Black Dragon Records.
What is unique about the album Atlantis Rising?
Atlantis Rising is a concept album with a storyline about a mythical war between the Æsir and Cthulhu, represented across four themed sections.
Did Manilla Road release live vinyl albums?
They released a live album called Roadkill in 1988 and After Midnight Live in 2009, the latter recorded at KMUW radio studios in 1979.
Transparency
Sources & method
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
- Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 07/07/2026