The Mansters
Self-titled
Ampmandens Records
Out now
Review by Derek J. Huckel
The Mansters begin their first album with little ado before slamming into business! Ten tracks in ten minutes and they’re done with their self-titled product. Well, there’s no sense in flourishes sometimes, especially when all you’ve had to say has been said: Goodbye. Having formed in 2006, The Mansters have come off a three-year hiatus and have worked their way to this album via a demo and two EPs since their conception.
This five-piece Norwegian outfit’s blend of 80 / 90’s punk and hardcore, seemingly take elements from bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Negative Approach, and more recent bands Off, and Iron Reagan, mixing them and forging them into top gear.
There’s not a lot of room to breathe in this relentless, well-produced release. It’s the latter half of The Mansters where some variation occurs in the tunes. My stand outs are Summer of 96 (great intro), Shit City, One Mistake and We Destroyed This Town. Targets is another great tune. It has a catchy cool intro, and the vocalist JanH trades vocals with another which is pretty cool on verses. There’s a breakdown that sounds like it gets stuck but it makes it!
The themes are usual, parasitic others /bodies/ government, trying and not getting ahead, trying to survive which is fine but I need to be moved, and hear new ways to express the same themes. This album will get some people; just not all the people.
Available to listen and buy at The Mansters bandcamp page.
