Charleston duo Shovels & Rope (Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst) return with their most personal, intimate record to date, Manticore, written prior to the pandemic but reimagined during it for a more striking sound than ever.
Originally planned as a stripped-down acoustic-leaning release, Manticore's tracks were written prior to the pandemic, but recorded during it, when Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst suddenly had much more time at their disposal. The duo reimagined the original arrangements, resulting in 10 new songs that range in sound from heartbreaking, stark piano to rollicking hard-rock and danceable guitar and drum numbers. Manticore reveals the band's most personal stories about love, family, marriage, self-realization, and more to date, and it carves out its own distinct place in the Shovels & Rope canon.
With two Americana Music Awards (2013's Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year), over 130 total artist streams, and more then 200,000 albums sold, Shovels & Rope have amassed a loyal following since they debuted in 2008. Manticore now brings those fans closer to the duo than ever before.