When a band references one of my all-time favourite acts I’m going to be drawn to listen to their music. When Mantis referenced two of my all-time favourites, they were definitely onto a good thing. Debut album Magnolia has a lot to live up to when its creators offer up And So I Watch You From Afar and Russian Circles as influences. Can it deliver? Well, I’m pleased to report that it certainly entertains and shows a band, reasonably in their infancy (since 2014) have got a lot of promise.
Opening track ‘Miasma’ is an urgent romper that definitely echoes the seismic riffs and idiosyncrasies of ASIWYFA and Russian Circles. Dynamically, the track is engaging and has enough twists and turns to keep your interest. By way of an introduction to Mantis, it’s a very encouraging start. This is swiftly followed up with ‘Mono No Aware’, a choppy blaster of warm guitars that wrap themselves round you with some neat effects that ring sweet melodies. Like ASIWYFA, there’s a playful joy to be had with how the guitars swerve and slip and when the mid-section erupts it is a truly euphoric moment that delights every time. As the track comes to a close it’s an all-out mosh pit inducing metallic attack.
The hefty metallic riffs of ‘Malpurajo’ very much validate the pogojazz tag the band give themselves. You can certainly feel the energy this track might provide in a live scenario, it doesn’t do much dynamically, but is fairly enjoyable overall. A delicate piano interlude introduces ‘7’, before the track explodes into another chunky collision of twisting riffs and powerful drumming. Even though it mixes elements of other bands in this domain, Mantis still manage to bring their own unique identity to differentiate from the rest. Near the end the track fades in a way I’ve never heard before, most of the instruments take forever to dissipate leaving a lone guitar scrape and the piano reappears.
‘Monstro’ pops along to a more mathematical formula but using pumped up riffs rather than clean intricate playing. I prefer this approach as the fiddly nature of some math rock bands drives me crackers trying to keep up. There are some exquisite tempo changes that provide neat dynamic flourishes. All of this is underpinned with memorable melodies.
‘Must Put Horns On It’ is a solid grinder with a monolithic mix of super heavy bass and speaker busting riffs, coming across like a primal/early era Russian Circles.
On closing track ‘M’, a flighty folk-y lead line skips along over the top of a backdrop of propulsive guitars, this track tells more of a story and dynamically flows well with a multitude of ideas and changes. Added keyboard textures bring brighter hues of colour and the track ends with a flurry of shiny guitar sounds and an epic payload of heavyweight drum beats.
Mantis have previously released two e.p’s and have appeared at Roadburn, Rock Herk and AFF festivals, not bad going for a band that have only been around four years. It’s this work ethic mixed with their ability to knock out the hooks and melodies while providing an impressive level of heaviness that will see them be a force to be reckoned with before long. As the PR encouraging mentions, “Like, a lot”. If you are a fan of the aforementioned instrumental legends, I would recommend giving Mantis a listen.
