MANTAR - Grungetown Hooligans II (This thing isn't dead yet.)

I spent the end of 2020 in quiet reflection(Which means playing video games, drinking too much, and occasionally going for a walk.) "Refreshed", I'm back to doing something...    

In the middle of last year, MANTAR, a two piece from Hamburg, Germany released a collection of covers of songs by 90's grunge and alt stalwarts such as L7, Sonic Youth, and Mudhoney. I learned of this band prior to one of my trips to FL FEST. They shared a stage on "Metal/Hardcore Sunday" with Whores and Melvins. The former I will review, if they ever release their new album. Regardless, I was pretty impressed by their performance and have been following them since. Their releases "Death By Burning" and "Ode To The Flame" are worth grabbing for any metal head. 

The first track to jump out at me was this excellent cover of The Jesus Lizard's "Puss". While the lyrics are more clear than David Yow's screaming, the music is darker and befitting of the topic of the song. I'll leave that to you to figure out. This one is a total banger. 

Next we have their take on L7's "Can I Run". In this video, we see the drummer first making himself pretty and then gorging himself over the lost love seen in the picture of the guitar player/singer. It gets darker from there. (I suppose this video needs a trigger warning for something, well a bunch of things.) The song is about a woman's fear of walking the streets alone. But in the environment L7 is talking about, a man loving another man would live in fear as well. This one ain't happy but I like it. 

Finally, we have a cover by one of my favorite bands, Mudhoney. "Who You Drivin' Now" is one to light up the pit. I can see the arms in the air, people singing back to the band while bodies flail about. Rip. 

All in this is a solid batch of covers. It was tough to pick which ones to feature. Plop it into your bandcamp cart and let the nostalgia wash over you with a heavy dose of metal.