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Manntra

{{Short description|Croatian metal band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Manntra

| image = Manntra Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023 21.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Manntra in 2023

| origin = Umag, Croatia

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 2011–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|manntra.hr}}

| current_members = * Marko Matijević Sekul

  • Zoltan Lečei
  • Andrea Kert
  • Dorian 'Dodo' Pavlović
  • Barren King

}}

Manntra is a Croatian rock band from Umag, formed in 2011.{{cite news | url=https://www.muzika.hr/manntra-surov-hladan-i-energican-balkanski-rock-bend/| title=Manntra - surov, hladan i energičan balkanski rock bend| work=muzika.hr|language=Croatian|date=4 April 2013| accessdate=18 January 2019}} After the disbandment of the industrial metal band Omega Lithium, two of its members, Marko Matijević Sekul and Zoltan Lečei, went on to form Manntra,{{cite news | url=https://www.muzika.hr/manntra-novi-rock-bend-clanova-omega-lithiuma/| title=Manntra – novi rock bend članova Omega Lithiuma| trans-title=Manntra - new rock band of the Omega Lithium members | work=muzika.hr|language=Croatian|date=27 February 2012| accessdate=18 January 2019}} immediately calling Andrea Kert as a drummer.

Manntra's musical style is characterized by a fusion of traditional Croatian folk music with heavy metal, incorporating elements of industrial and electronic music. The band often employs traditional instruments such as the sopele, the tamburica, and the diple, alongside electric guitars, drums, and keyboards. Their music is notable for its dynamic rhythms, driving guitar riffs, and powerful vocals. After releasing the first three EPs in the Croatian language, Manntra pivoted to English (with occasional German lyrics) to embrace a global audience. The band's lyrics frequently deal with themes of spirituality, mythology, and personal struggle, which are often drawn from Croatian folklore and history. Overall, Manntra's sound is a unique blend of different styles, creating a distinct and compelling musical identity.{{Cite web |title=Marko Matijević Sekul (Manntra): "Na novom albumu išli smo više u metal i industrial" |url=https://glazba.hr/citaj/intervju/manntra-marko-matijevic-sekul/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Glazba.hr |date=22 August 2022 |language=hr}}

Beyond the Croatian borders, the band has also gained popularity in Russia, Germany and Austria.{{cite news |title='Rusi nas dobro razumiju, a Nijemci vole Mediteran' |trans-title="Russians understand us well and Germans love Mediterranean"|url=https://www.pressreader.com/croatia/24sata-cafe-24/20180323/281543701464637 |accessdate=21 January 2019 |work=24 Sata - Cafe TV |date=23 March 2018 |page=4 |language=hr}}

History

=Demos and early works (2011–2018)=

The band's debut EP, Horizont, was released on 29 November 2012. It includes the songs "Kiša" and "Horizont," which were previously released as singles.{{cite news | url=http://www.spona.com.hr/manntra-horizont-novi-album/| title=Manntra – Horizont Novi Album| work=Spona|language=Croatian|date=29 November 2012| accessdate=18 January 2019}} The EP was recorded in 2012 in Croatia and Slovenia and was entirely produced by the band's lead vocalist, Marko Matijević Sekul.

Between 2015 and 2018, Manntra continued to gain momentum with the release of two successful EPs. Venera, released in 2015, showcased the band's evolving sound and incorporated more raw folk instruments. It featured a range of tracks, including "Bijeli Prah," "Vila," and "Put." Its fusion of traditional Balkan folk music and hard rock garnered critical acclaim.{{Cite web |last=Koić |first=Bruno |date=30 March 2015 |title=Recenzija: Manntra - Venera |url=https://www.mixeta.net/2015/03/30/recenzija-manntra-venera/,%20https://www.mixeta.net/2015/03/30/recenzija-manntra-venera/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Mixeta |language=hr}}{{Cite web |title=MANNTRA - Venera |url=https://www.perun.hr/manntra-venera |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Perun.hr |language=hr}}

Meridian was released in 2017, building on the success of Venera while pushing the band's sound in new directions. The EP featured a more ambitious and experimental approach aimed closer to home, showcasing the Balkans' soundscape, but finding some success outside Croatia, as well.{{Cite web |title=Manntra - Meridian {{!}} Review (2017) (Review / Bewertung) - Sonic Seducer |url=https://sonic-seducer.de/review/manntra-meridian-review-2017/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=sonic-seducer.de |language=de-DE}} The track Meridian achieved widespread critical acclaim outside of Croatia.{{Cite web |last=Csencsics |first=Daniel |title=MANNTRA - Meridian {{!}} Review bei Stormbringer |url=https://www.stormbringer.at/reviews/14018/manntra-meridian.html |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Stormbringer |language=de}}

=''Oyka!,'' Dora 2019, and ''Monster Mind Consuming'' (2019–2021)=

Manntra decided to expand their focus outside of Croatia with the new Oyka! album. They continued to blend traditional Balkan folk music and heavy metal, but this time exploring it in English. Manntra signed with the record label Menart, which also released their previous EP Meridian in 2017. This deal led to further contracts in Germany and performances at major festivals. Their success opened doors to sign with NoCut Entertainment (SPV) and Schubert Music Agency.{{Cite web |title=SEKUL: 'Kao i Thompson, i mi se naslanjamo na hrvatske kraljeve' |url=https://www.nacional.hr/sekul-kao-i-thompson-i-mi-se-naslanjamo-na-hrvatske-kraljeve/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=NACIONAL.HR |date=22 September 2019 |language=hr}}{{Cite web |title=MANNTRA |url=https://nocut.de/artist/manntra/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=NoCut Entertainment |language=de-DE}}

On 17 January 2019, the band was announced as one of the 16 participants in Dora 2019, the Croatian national contest to select the country's Eurovision Song Contest 2019 entry, with the song "In the Shadows,"{{cite web|title=Croatia: Dora 2019 Participants Revealed|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/01/17/croatia-dora-2019-participants-revealed/|publisher=eurovoix|accessdate=18 January 2019|date=17 January 2019}} landing in the fourth spot.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Manntra remained active, collaborating with other artists and experimenting with new material. This period was also marked by the return of the original bass player Zoltan Lečei.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} Released in 2021, the full-length Monster Mind Consuming showcased a heavier and more complex sound for Manntra. Presented as a conceptual album about war and personal struggle, it featured tracks such as "Heathens," "Ori Ori," and "Monster Mind Consuming."{{Cite web |last=L |first=Kay |date=29 March 2021 |title=Manntra - Monster Mind Consuming |url=https://time-for-metal.eu/manntra-monster-mind-consuming/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Time For Metal - Das Metal Magazin & Metal Podcast |language=de-DE}} Later that year, Manntra released Nightcall, an three-track EP of covers featuring "No Time to Die," a James Bond theme song by Billie Eilish; Naranča, a traditional Croatian folk song; and "Nightcall," an industrial cover of a song by French electronic house artist Kavinsky.{{Cite web |last=Travers |first=Will |date=January 31, 2022 |title=Nightcall - Manntra |url=https://metal-temple.com/review/manntra-nightcall/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |website=Metal Temple}}

= ''Kreatura'' and ''Endlich! Live in Hamburg'' (2022) =

In 2022, Manntra released Kreatura, their third English-language album, via NoCut Entertainment. Kreatura expanded on Manntra's interest in regional folklore and mythical stories and returned slightly to a metal and industrial sound. The release was followed by extensive touring and a festival season, resulting in the release of Endlich! Live in Hamburg, a live EP and video release of Manntra's show in Hamburg.{{cite web|url=https://time-for-metal.eu/manntra-veroeffentlichen-endlich-live-in-hamburg-am-09-12-2022/|title=Manntra: veröffentlichen "Endlich! Live In Hamburg" am 09.12.2022|date=29 November 2022 |publisher=Time for Metal|language=de|accessdate=2024-04-14}}

File:Manntra Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023 19.jpg

Just before their solo tour through Germany,{{Cite web |last=Vorndran |first=Daniela |title=Preview MANNTRA - Kreatura Tour 2022 |url=https://www.reflectionsofdarkness.com/previews-mainmenu-153/21841-preview-manntra-kreatura-tour-2022 |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=www.reflectionsofdarkness.com |date=2 May 2022 |language=en-gb}} the band got another addition in the form of the masked mystery guitarist/multi-instrumentalist they call the Barren King.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2022 |title=Manntra - Kreatura live |url=https://obscuro.eu/manntra-kreatura-live/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Metalheads Magazine {{!}} Obscuro.eu |language=en-US}} Becoming somewhat of a calling card for the band, the Barren King crowd surfs on a stand-up paddleboard during the song of the same name, sometimes picking up a beer from the bar along the way.

= ''War of the Heathens'' (2023) =

In the summer of 2023, during a year of extensive touring, Manntra released War of the Heathens via NoCut Entertainment. It entered the top 50 bestselling albums on the German charts and reached number 43 after the release, thus becoming the first Croatian band to enter the German Billboard.{{Cite web |title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-524200 |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=www.offiziellecharts.de}} The album was promoted with a headlining tour in 2024.{{Cite web |date=18 September 2023 |title=MANNTRA – "War of The Heathens" – Ziehen die Kroaten mit Ihrer Fangemeinde in die Schlacht? – Albumreview › rockmagazine.net |url=https://rockmagazine.net/manntra-war-of-the-heathens-ziehen-die-kroaten-mit-ihrer-fangemeinde-in-die-schlacht-albumreview/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |language=de-DE}}{{Cite web |last=W |first=Roger |title=MANNTRA – War Of The Heathens |url=https://metalfactory.ch/music-reviews/aktuell/lp-cd-reviews/review/manntra-war-of-the-heathens |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=metalfactory.ch |language=de-de}}{{Cite web |title=Manntra "War Of The Heathens" (Review / Bewertung) - Sonic Seducer |url=https://sonic-seducer.de/review/manntra-war-of-the-heathens/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=sonic-seducer.de |language=de-DE}}

= '''''Titans (2025)''''' =

After announcing their signing to heavy metal indie label Napalm Records,{{Cite news |date=March 2025 |title=Sonic Seducer präsentiert: Manntra "Titans" Tour 2026 |url=https://sonic-seducer.de/sonic-seducer-praesentiert-manntra-titans-tour-2026/ |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=Sonic Seducer}} Manntra released their fifth full-length album, Titans, which immediately landed at number 45 on the German charts.{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts (Official German Charts) |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Offizielle Deutsche Charts (Official German Charts)}} A headlining tour is set to follow in 2026, after another year of extensive touring and festival appearances.

Band members

Current members

  • Marko Matijević Sekul – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards {{small|(2011–present)}}
  • Zoltan Lečei – bass guitar {{small|(2011–2016, 2021–present)}}
  • Andrea Kert – drums {{small|(2011–present)}}
  • Dorian 'Dodo' Pavlović – guitar {{small|(2022–present)}}
  • Barren King – guitar, pipes, keyboards {{small|(2022–present)}}

Former members

  • Danijel Šćuric – bass guitar {{small|(2016)}}
  • Filip Majdak – guitar {{small|(2016–2018)}}
  • Boris Kolarić – guitar, bagpipes, mandolin {{small|(2016–2021)}}
  • Maja Kolarić – bass guitar {{small|(2016–2021)}}
  • Marko 'Pure' Purišić – guitar {{small|(2011–2016, 2018–2022)}}

Discography

  • Horizont (2012)
  • Venera (2015)
  • Meridian (2017)
  • Oyka! (2019)
  • Monster Mind Consuming (2021)
  • Nightcall (2021)
  • Kreatura (2022)
  • Endlich! Live in Hamburg (2022)
  • War of the Heathens (2023)
  • Titans (2025)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{cc}}

  • [http://www.manntra.hr/ Official website]
  • {{Discogs artist|artist=Manntra|name=Manntra}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2011 establishments in Croatia

Category:Croatian heavy metal musical groups

Category:Industrial metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2011