Mantus - Königreich der Angst

In 2005 both members Martin Schindler and Thalia announced to close the chapter MANTUS for good as they wanted to pursue a different musical direction that was absolutely incompatible with MANTUS. The Best-Of ‘Chronic’, released in May 2006’ was supposed to be the last official release under that moniker. But end of 2008 the website said MANTUS would return and they did in January 2009 with the album ‘Requiem’ and just a few more months into 2009 the next release of MANTUS is here with the EP ‘Königreich der Angst’.

Beginning with the title track, a melange of anthemic, mostly symphonic arrangements and hard drums and metal riffs with present Thalia as sole vocalist! With ‘Dogma’ comes an ominous atmosphere that is growing in intensity as the seconds and minutes pass. Within that environment the gloomy vocals of Martin Schindler are the best choice. ‘Blaue Grenze’ abandons all harder orchestration such as guitar riffs and pounding drums and elaborates on the symphonic and orchestral face of MANTUS incorporating choirs, the mandatory and mighty strings and the basic murk that was present in all the previous songs as well. ‘Wo die Einsamkeit beginnt’ starts gently with a piano melody before the metal harshness breaks loose again just to be cut back to more restrained tones when Martin Schindler is beginning with the verses. During the chorus Thalia joins in with backing vocals. ‘Ein sanfter Tod’ takes it down a little notch. It preludes with a synth violin and then slow yet kicking drums come in accompanied by metal riffs and in sharp contrast to that Thalia’s dreamy voice is delivering vocals.