Manntis praying for 'Ozzfest' win

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Manntis, a metal/hardcore band from Southern California, gives a concert tomorrow at Pipeline CafÚ. The band, which has a distinctive vocal sound, also is a contender in "Battle for Ozzfest," airing on MTV. The Show Media Manntis 8 p.m. tomorrow Pipeline Café $15 general, $10 advance 926-3000 Also: "Battle for Ozzfest" airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.

I have no idea what the music of the other seven bands competing for a 2005 Ozzfest slot on the MTV reality series sounds like. And only two episodes of "Battle" have been broadcast on MTV so far.

Still, I can't imagine any other band possessing a vocalist with the same phlegm-clearing power as Manntis' Jake Sirokman. Sirokman's voice is scary. Hatebreed scary.

Imagine someone taking a swatch of sandpaper, working it vigorously on the interior of your throat and then asking you to sing while blood coagulates around your vocal cords. That's Sirokman's voice on the three downloads — "A New Breed of Life," "Shades of Hatred," "My Enemy" — available on Manntis' Web site, www.manntis.com.

That's also a compliment.

The Southern California-based metal/hardcore band performs at Pipeline CafÚ tomorrow, aiming to score some "Battle" support. Viewer opinion of contestants' performances on a series of 2004 Ozzfest tour tasks is one component of choosing a winner. Another, no surprise, is staying in Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's good graces.

Manntis lead guitarist Adair Cobley was chosen to represent the band on "Battle" tasks.

With the notoriously opinionated Sharon carefully watching his performance, our prayers are with him.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.