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Manntis

Sleep in Your Grave [reissue] (2005)
Century Media

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: crazytoledo
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 17th 2007

Manntis was the band that should have won the Battle of Ozzfest series from a few years back. They were the best there and are actually a good metalcore band that, dare I say, have talent and sound better than the 'core's drones of generic bands. It’s the fact that they don’t follow the same chugging style and have some nice guitar work that makes them stand out. They have some nice riffs by Adair and there are some really good breakdowns. There really is only two haunting problems on the album.

First, this isn’t a hardcore album, it's a metalcore album. And last time I checked, metalcore albums don’t have songs that run two-and-a-half minutes and have breakdowns 90 seconds in. The songs are way too short; if they lengthened the breakdowns and verses, this easily could have made it a much better release. Songs like “Axe of Redemption” would have easily benefitted from longer verses, a longer breakdown, and time for more riffs to be played out by the two guitarists. But at Sleep in Your Grave's current length, it’s just too quick of an album to really make an impact considering the style.

Second, this is going to confuse people as it is not a new album. Sleep in Your Grave was independently released and Century Media is merely re-releasing it. So with that said, it gives me a lot of hope that they can focus on writing longer songs that showcase their worthy guitar licks and breakdowns. I also liked their acoustic track, “The End is Where It Begins,” which is a nice surprise for a band of their style.

When Manntis gets more to write music and strengthen their already solid songwriting and musicianship, they will obviously be on the top lines of the metalcore genre because they have the potential to be a great band that can stand out. Sleep In Your Grave is a solid, worthy debut whose only pitfall is its short length at 28 minutes.

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SilentStorms (July 20, 2007)

Just because a genre (such as metalcore) generally has longer songs DO NOT mean that short songs are unwarranted. Oh, did you know rock songs have to be 2-3:20, and punk songs have to be around 2-2:30 minutes, and doom songs have to be between 7 and 15 minutes, and grind songs have to be between 10 seconds and 1:30, and ... fuck you get the idea. Bands can make songs however long they want and a genre shouldn't pigeonhole shit like that. Crappy review because that pissed me off.

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

Too bad 90% of their guitar riffs rip off As I Lay Dying. Which happens to be another terrible metalcore band.

Terrible review befitting a terrible band. Bravo.

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

Well, absolute punk is officially the shittiest site on the internet.

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=252601

mattp330 (July 18, 2007)

"I haven't listened to this band or CD really but I was bummed that they didn't get to stick around longer on the battle for Ozzfest. I thought they were leagues better than the other bands on there.''

they made it to the final three, and A Dozen Furys was badass..... not that i watched the show religiously.... or that i laughed when they made that one dude look like a clown, or when the other guy pretended he was in slipknot..... i hate my life

tenwestchaser (July 17, 2007)

I've always hated their name. Manntis just sounds like a gay nu-metal band who should be parading around in masks and make up.

SloaneDaley (July 17, 2007)

the bands name should be called "Mantits"

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

I haven't heard these guys, but a 28 minute CD sounds perfect. Most bands of this style don't have enough diversity in their sound to justify a longer release, and after about 30 minutes all the songs run together anyway. It's like eating a meal and being satisfied afterwards, rather than so full that you feel like you're going to vomit.

Ollywood (July 17, 2007)

I haven't listened to this band or CD really but I was bummed that they didn't get to stick around longer on the battle for Ozzfest. I thought they were leagues better than the other bands on there.

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

Saw them play about 2 yrs ago. Definitely solid live band with charismatic playing, i agree with the fact that the songs are too short and could've benefited with building up more on the breakdowns and lengthening some of the verses. Other than that solid release.