Mantissa

Mantissa is a heavy rock band formed as Killing Time. Killing Time formed in Sydney and soon relocated to Melbourne. The band lineup Adam Pringle, Nina Grant, Chris Paine, Jed Starr and Tubby Wadsworth started to gain a following and after a bidding war signed to Polydor. Their first release, Ruby's Mind, was a top ten hit. Wadsworth was sacked in 1991 and was eventually replaced by Syd Green. (One of the intervening drummers was Russell Hopkinson, later a member of You Am I). 1992 single Dream Alone peaked at #13. In 1992 Starr left and was replaced by Chris Collins. Killing Time supported national tours by Jane's Addiction, Mudhoney, Scatterbrain and Baby Animals.  Killing Time changed their name to Mantissa in 1992 due to there being bands named Killing Time in USA and Japan. Their first album, Mossy God (produced by Mantissa and Terry Date), was released in 1992. The two singles from the album, Mary Mary and Land of the Living, peaked at #55 and #60 respectively. Mantissa supported the Red Hot Chilli Peppers national tour followed by their own national tours to promote their releases.  In 1993 Mantissa located to USA and to promote the US release of Mossy God toured heavily, including a support for Mindfunk.  Mantissa returned to Australia in 1994 and opened for Pantera, played the 1995 Big Day Out then released another EP, Inter Alia, in 1995. They recorded their second album, Thirst (produced by Mantissa and Michael Letho). This album did not perform very well and after one last national tour they broke up in 1996.

Mantissa-Mossy God (1992) Polydor

1. Extro 04:22  

2. Mary Mary 04:46  

3. Staying Clean? 04:06  

4. Sanctify 05:25  

5. Mystery Line 05:26

6. Land Of The Living 04:34

7. New Way 03:20  

8. Station 05:56  

9. Next State Of Mind 04:44  

10. Dream Alone  04:32  

11. The Seed 04:13  

12. Round The World 11:30  

13. (Untitled/unlisted track) 05:43

Line up: 

Adam Pringle (vocals) 

Chris Paine (guitar) 

Chris Collins (guitar) 

Nina Grant (bass) 

Syd Green (drums)

Recorded at Gotham Audio, Warranwood, 

Australia in May and June 1992.

Produced by Terry Date