Mantarochen

Reviews

Mantarochen Wellness Ward cassette

MANTAROCHEN is out of Leipzig, Germany, and they just released the Wellness Ward cassette, a jangling, five-song recording that explores various aspects of post-punk. A classic post-punk method blends with melancholic shoegazing to create a sound that is momentarily reminiscent of the REPLACEMENTS mixed with PAVEMENT. The opener “Hotel Hell” and the closer “Bored to Death” both bring a bit more swagger with the inclusion of some deathrock tones. In all, Wellness Ward is a gradual trip that feels like an earnest expression of emotions.

Mantarochen Cut My Brainhair cassette

From Leipzig, Germany, MANTAROCHEN releases their second full-length album on cassette. The band plays an icy post-punk/coldwave kind of thing, with really haunting, low-end female vocals hanging over ever-present synth, sparse drums, and gangly guitar riffs. I really enjoy the instrumental opener “Delta (Intro),” as it sets the mood for the brooding tracks that follow. Some songs move with a little urgency, like “Shadow,” but mostly we get a mid-tempo pace, leaving plenty of space for these dark reveries. That said, none of the songs linger on: they’re all in the economy of sub-three-minutes. “Pull Me” may be my favorite of the album, with an unnerving synth trill and a single note-bend on the guitar—it’s angular, almost a little sci-fi, and perfectly droning. Clean production, but not overly polished. If this type of genre is at all up your alley, you will like this.

Mantarochen In the Badgers Cave EP

MANTAROCHEN is a darkwave, gothic post-punk band from Germany. I was immediately drawn to their EP solely from the title—In the Badgers Cave, so badass. With the opening track, “Reflection,” you feel as though you’re in another world. Perhaps underwater, swirling in the moody abyss they’ve created. Reminiscent of SELOFAN with distinct bass lines and synths, they are able to create an atmosphere of unrest, leaving you with a haunted feeling. I loved how lost I got in this EP.