Atrax mantis started before the summer of 2004 in Kilkenny city Ireland.it was a 4 peice.There was Dylan Lawless (guitar),James Meaney (vocals),Darren Guillfoyle (bass) and James Quinn (drums).We started during may. We made our first line up of 6 songs and 2 covers and played our first gig in the zoo club ,Kilkenny city,April 2005.The covers were made up of Mudvanye and Napalm Death. Just before the summer of 2005,the band was badly needing a 2nd guitarist.eventually we found Eoin Brett,we were now a 5 peice ,during that summer we played numerous gigs.These gigs included Carlow and the Kilkenny Battle of The Bands.we have been fans of the Battle of The Bands and have gone to the last few ones in prevous years,so this year we decided to go for it ourselves. The final was set for the 11th of September.After another crazy gig tensions were high.We walked out 2nd place which we were very pleased with.The prize was 500 euro worth of recording time in Broderick's music warehouse Kilkenny city.There will be a lot of upcoming gigs in Kilkenny and elsewhere in Ireland.The band is set to record there cd in the early stage of 2006.The band feels stronger than ever and is up for anything!!!! -James Quinn

We were placed in heat 3 along side local Kilkenny bands such as Dyonisis, Ninja Robots, Cellar Door and Bad Mothers Union.This gig took place on Sunday the 28th of August in Morrisseys club.It was a chaotic gig and later we found ourselves in the final.It has been said in the local newspaper that week that we provoked the biggest mosh pit in the clubs history.

We were placed in heat 3 along side local Kilkenny bands such as Dyonisis, Ninja Robots, Cellar Door and Bad Mothers Union.This gig took place on Sunday the 28th of August in Morrisseys club.It was a chaotic gig and later we found ourselves in the final.It has been said in the local newspaper that week that we provoked the biggest mosh pit in the clubs history.