Mantar will release a brand new full-length, Post Apocalyptic Depression, on February 14 via Metal Blade Records.
2022's Pain Is Forever And This Is The End saw the German duo bring a sonic richness to their madly heavy blackened death-punk grooves, assisting the record to its position at #2 on Germany's Official Top 10 album chart. The record added smoother, calmer, more harmonic textures to Mantar's expanding palette, but on 2024's Post Apocalyptic Depression, the band smashes the palette and punches a hole in the canvas.
"We wanted to do everything different from the last album," affirms guitarist/vocalist Hanno Klänhardt. "The last album was very produced. A huge sounding record with clean production. Display of power. That was what we wanted and felt at that time. Now we are trying to destroy what we've built up with the last album. There is a certain beauty in disappointing people's expectations."
One earful of monster-grooving punk 'n' roll opener "Absolute Ghost" confirms that disappointment is an implausible reaction to the wildly energized righteous blood-shakers assembled here. Mantar has already eaten up the road all over Europe, the US, Japan, Latin America, and South Africa, as well as all the major European festivals and American festivals over their ten-year existence, but these tunes are destined for especially visceral live connection.
The ethos is clear from the first two words Hanno uses to describe the recording process: "Quick and dirty. We didn't even bring our own gear to the studio, and just used the equipment that we would find there. There was zero planning involved in the making of this album. We wanted to keep it as primitive as possible. We were bolder this time and literally cut any shit off the songs that we didn't think was necessary. I think you can hear that and playing these new songs is more fun. I feel very connected with my punk roots on this album. Very punk rock production and next to our first album definitely the most raw sounding one."
Further reconnecting Mantar with the spirit of their 2014 debut Death By Burning, the new front cover is again painted by renowned artist Aron Wiesenfeld, whose haunting aesthetic lends the band such distinctive and striking visual impact. It feels like a band coming full circle, drawing to a close the first ten years of Mantar.
As for that intensely full-on title, Hanno defines Post Apocalyptic Depression as "the feeling you get after a mass hysteria. The feeling you get once you've invested all your power in a mass hypnosis and suddenly realize there won't be no salvation. Also, it refers to a very one-dimensional and basic human feeling we all know. Being just burned out after a very tedious and exhausting period of life. Post Apocalyptic Depression also can be taken as the insight that people just refuse to learn. Besides that, it's a damn catchy and cool name for an album that sounds exactly the way these words sound."
As a precursor to the record's release, today Mantar unleashes first single, "Halsgericht". Comments Hanno, "The title means something like 'the right to impose extra heavy punishment.' Mantar style. Old fashioned darkness. It's fun to not only finally work with a German song title but also introduce some German lines to the song. It makes it weird and sinister. Just what we like. Especially in the US, people seem to love these kinda vibes. Fine by us. Celebrating it with the most epic hook of the whole album."
Watch Mantar's video for "Halsgericht" below.
Post Apocalyptic Depression is available on CD, and digitally as well as vinyl in the color variants below and a limited-edition box set:
- Rose/White Splatter (US - Ltd. 300)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Pink (EU)
- Grass Green Marbled (EU - Ltd. 500)
- Neon Splatter (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Rose/White Splatter (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Birthday Cake Splatter (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Pale Skin Marbled (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Box Set (EU - Ltd. 1000) - includes standard album on CD and vinyl, bonus 7" w/ two exclusive cover tracks, back patch, signed 12" art print on thick cardboard, + 12" booklet incl. lyrics
Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Absolute Ghost"
"Rex Perverso"
"Principle Of Command"
"Dogma Down"
"Morbid Vocation"
"Halsgericht"
"Pit Of Guilt"
"Church Of Suck"
"Two Choices Of Eternity"
"Face Of Torture"
"Axe Death Scenario"
"Cosmic Abortion"
"Halsgericht" video:
Mantar will join Kvelertak for a short run of live shows this February with more dates to be announced in the weeks to come.
Formed in 2013, Mantar has been recognized as one of the hardest working among the German extreme metal underground. Mantar manages to sound heavier than most five piece bands you may know, in spite of the fact that no bass guitar is used on this record. Just drums and guitar set for destruction. Forget about rock 'n' roll. This will hurt. Flogging beats and blackened melodies meet feedback orgies and doom mayhem. Early Melvins, Motörhead, Darkthrone. You name it. Don't call it sludge though…
Mantar lineup:
Hanno Klänhardt - guitars, vocals
Erinc Sakarya - drums
(Photo - Sonja Schuringa/Chantik Photography)
