Hard Times is the appropriate title of this new Mantra album, since I had a hard time listening to this disc. Writing the review is far easier though. There are exactly twenty six seconds of music that I like on Hard Times, the first two seconds of every song. Thirteen times I caught myself thinking: ”well, this sounds promising”, thirteen times disappointment kicked in after a mere two seconds. Seeing a photograph of four men in their late thirties makes you feel compassioned because you figured you were listening to youngsters not so skilled in playing their instruments.

I just couldn’t think of any other reason why there are so few different notes played. If I have to mention a positive thing about Hard Times, it must be that there are a few tracks that are less horrible than others; one of them being “The Big Wave”, where the band proves that they are capable of making songs that aren’t a bore. One thing that doesn’t help either is the terrible recording and production of the album. I’ve heard home recorded demos that sound ten times better than Hard Times. In conclusion: one of the worst albums I had to review, ever.