{"id":75856,"date":"2019-02-07T14:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=75856"},"modified":"2023-04-07T14:25:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T13:25:28","slug":"review-mantra-dreamland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-mantra-dreamland\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Mantra – Dreamland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>West London trio Mantra<\/b> are the kind of band whose sound rests in that sweet spot between post-hardcore and straightforward hard rock. The kind of middle ground that lives in a world where At The Drive-In can tour with Royal Blood and no one bats an eyelid. Having cut their teeth supporting the likes of Fizzy Blood and LTNT on previous EPs \u2018I Want\u2019<\/i> and \u2018Sleep\u2019<\/i>, Mantra<\/b> provide a confident and brash opening gambit with debut album \u2018Dreamland\u2019<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake, these songs are all competently written alt-rock bangers, and opening with the sturdy bounce of a re-recorded \u2018I Want\u2019<\/i> demonstrates their self-assurance in their craft. Chucking any traces of subtlety or nuance in favour of chunky riffs helps set the tone for \u2018Dreamland\u2019<\/i> and establishes a level of energy which stays consistent across these twelve tracks. This energy is often the driving force of tracks such as\u00a0\u2018Stroke\u2019<\/i>, \u2018Run Away\u2019<\/i> and \u2018Annette\u2019<\/i> particularly when paired with frontman Simon Stark\u2019s sweeping vocals, which are reminiscent of a young Thom Yorke.<\/p>\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Fp2-kmJR1Es]<\/p>\n

As a unit, the three-piece are flawless, proven in Stark\u2019s slathering guitar grooves weaving themselves around Richard Leed\u2019s slow and swaggering bassline on the QOTSA-esque \u2018Too Little Too Late\u2019<\/i> while the riff-worshipping \u2018Skinned Alive\u2019<\/i> is a hefty dose of garage indie rock where all members are evidently pushing themselves to play as hard as possible.<\/p>\n

While \u2018Dreamland\u2019<\/i> is packed with songs which will flourish in a live setting or instant hits to listen to in the gym, one is left feeling that Mantra<\/b> haven\u2019t realised their full potential yet. It\u2019s fun enough to create punchy rock songs, but one could easily picture the trio expanding into seven-minute tracks with more synthesiser and string sections, without any compromise to their current style. But for a band two-and-a-half-years in their infancy, this is an impressive offering. Let\u2019s hope we see many more offerings in years to come.<\/p>\n

3.5\/5<\/p>\n

\u2018Dreamland\u2019<\/i> by Mantra<\/b> is out\u00a015th February on\u00a0Dine Alone Records.<\/b><\/p>\n

Mantra<\/b> links: Website<\/a> |\u00a0Facebook<\/a>|\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

Words by Andy Davidson (@AndyrfDavidson<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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