MANTAR’s Post Apocalyptic Depression - A Raw, Unfiltered Sludge-Punk Onslaught

A Nihilistic Soundtrack to Burnout

Few bands wield the sheer force of raw, unfiltered power like Mantar. The German duo—Hanno Klänhardt (guitar/vocals) and Erinc Sakarya (drums)—have built a reputation for crafting some of the most intense and visceral extreme music of the last decade. With their latest album, Post Apocalyptic Depression, set for release on February 14, 2025, via Metal Blade Records, Mantar abandon the refined production of their previous outing, Pain Is Forever and This Is The End (2022), in favor of a return to their primal roots. The result? A scorching, punk-fueled battering ram of an album that sacrifices gloss for pure, unfiltered rage.

If Pain Is Forever… was Mantar’s foray into sonic refinement, Post Apocalyptic Depression is the violent rebuke. Recorded live at Black Bear Studios in Gainesville, Florida, under the watchful eye of Ryan Williams, the album embodies the spirit of immediacy. Hanno and Erinc opted to forego their own gear, instead using whatever was available in the studio. This stripped-down approach makes the album feel like a pressure-cooked eruption of sound, emphasizing raw aggression over precision.

Lead single “Halsgericht” serves as a fitting centerpiece, clocking in at just over four minutes—the longest song on the record. It stands in stark contrast to the predominantly short and explosive tracks that populate the album, such as “Church of Suck” and “Axe Death Scenario,” both of which encapsulate Mantar’s ability to fuse blackened sludge with the snide, sneering energy of punk.

From the moment opener “Absolute Ghost” rips through the speakers, it’s evident that Mantar are once again reveling in their lo-fi, primal origins. The track wastes no time, launching into a frenzied, high-energy punk’n’roll groove that sets the tone for the onslaught to come. “Rex Perverso” follows suit, offering one of the album’s most infectious riffs—a testament to the duo’s ability to craft songs that are simultaneously abrasive and undeniably catchy.

One of Post Apocalyptic Depression’s greatest strengths lies in its sense of momentum. The band’s streamlined approach ensures that no song overstays its welcome, with the entire album clocking in at a tight 35 minutes. Tracks like “Dogma Down” and “Pit of Guilt” blast through their runtime with reckless abandon, while “Two Choices of Eternity” introduces a slightly more methodical stomp without sacrificing intensity.

The album’s punk ethos extends beyond the music itself. Hanno has been candid about the recording process, stating that there was “zero planning involved” and that the album was meant to channel a specific vibe rather than meticulously crafted songs. This raw energy is palpable, capturing a band that thrives in spontaneity.

Visually, the album continues Mantar’s tradition of striking cover art, once again enlisting Aron Wiesenfeld, whose haunting imagery previously graced Death by Burning (2014). It’s a fitting full-circle moment as Mantar mark ten years of sonic destruction, channeling the same anarchic energy that fueled their debut.

Lyrically, Post Apocalyptic Depression eschews direct political statements in favor of an almost detached observational style. Hanno has described the album’s themes as reflections of burnout—both personal and societal—following periods of hysteria and upheaval. The title itself encapsulates this sense of exhausted resignation, the realization that “there won’t be salvation” after chaos subsides. Tracks like “Face of Torture” and “Cosmic Abortion” embody this bleak perspective, pairing grim themes with unrelenting sonic assault.

With Post Apocalyptic Depression, Mantar prove once again why they are one of the most formidable forces in extreme music. This album is a defiant middle finger to expectation, a scorched-earth approach to songwriting that revels in its own rawness. Fans of the polished, grandiose production of Pain Is Forever… may initially be jarred by the unhinged chaos of this release, but those who long for the ferocity of Death by Burning will find Post Apocalyptic Depression to be a welcome return to form.

In an era where overproduced metal can sometimes feel sterile, Mantar have delivered an album that is alive with grit and venom. This is an album that doesn’t just demand to be played loud—it necessitates it. Pure, unrelenting, and unfiltered, Post Apocalyptic Depression is Mantar at their most primal, proving once more that their best work is forged in the fires of chaos.

Post Apocalyptic Depression track-listing: