Mantra is an album by New York City hardcore punk band Shelter. Released in 1995, it was the band's first album for Roadrunner.
Lyrically the album focuses mainly on Hare Krishna religious philosophy and social commentary on Western civilization — including a manifesto entitled Supersoul in the album's booklet, authored by band's frontman Ray Cappo. The first song, "Message of the Bhagavad", is introduced by an excerpt of a Bhagavad Gita verses reading.
Mantra was distributed in Brazil featuring two bonus tracks, expanding the listing from 11 to 13. Howerever, the lyrics for tracks #12 and #13 were not included in the booklet. By the time of the release, the band hadn't played live in the country yet, which happened for the first time in 1996. In Portuguese
Critical reception Trouser Press wrote that Cappo "is an articulate and principled spokesman for transcendental thought set to a tough 4/4 beat." In a retrospective review, Ox-Fanzine called Mantra "a tame rock album from another time."
Track listing
Credits
Band Ray Cappo – vocals, lyrics Porcell – guitars, additional production, mixing Adam Blake – bass Dave Dicenso – drums
Others Sri Kesava (Baby Gopal) – backing vocals Tom Soares – backing vocals Boston Bhakta Program – backing vocals Joe Tomlinson – backing vocals A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – spiritual representation
Production Tom Soares – production Greg Calbi – mastering Tom Soares – mixing Tom Soares – sound engineer Fred Bortolotti – sound engineer (assistant) Howie Abrams – A&R Lego/Cut The Fat – art direction, design concept, photography Betty Swollocks – design Ken Salerno – photography (back cover)
References