UFOmammut(pronounced "oofomammoot") are ingenious craftsmen creating, shaping and molding sound according to some clandestine and otherworldly recipe which they surely discovered on a cosmic voyage with the aid of psychedelic drugs. I actually found out about them relatively recently, and thanks to Robin no more time was lost. In this short and memorable period I've managed to insume all their LP's and also the split they did with another rising Italian giant - Lento. UFOmammut consists of members of the art collective, Malleus. They also have their own record label called Supernatural Cat. In short, these guys are genuine, genius and prolific as fuck, adept at producing a myriad forms of astounding art. A more holistically creative band has probably not walked the earth since 70's era Pink Floyd, and similar to these legends, their popularity seems to be soaring.
Like a universe sprouting upon command of a compelling chant, "Eve" commences by demanding our attention with a thunderously accentuated syllable. What follows is a ringing whisper that reveals to us the story of the original strove for knowledge and wisdom which has lead many with mutual aspirations down the left hand path. Very early on it is apparent that the whole album is enshrouded in a thrilling and exciting yet ominous atmosphere.
This tribute to "Eve" beautifully depicts the lustful worship of the essentially evil female spirit, which is one of the distinctive figures in occult inspired doom metal. UFOmammut employ tremendous scope in their revelations and recurring resonance in their use of imagery, bringing forth undulations like a slithering Godlike Snake.
The third movement of the album (some versions of the album contain 5 tracks although the original is one continuous song) is relentless in relaying magnificent, mammoth-like riffs. It tramples everything in its path and causes a rhythmic trembling of the surrounds. It grabs you spectacularly from the droning ambience and reveals its fury in hellishly heavy detail.
The echoes that remain gain a life of their own and grow to usher in a snailing, exuberant climax. The album finale dawns upon the listener in a process which results in something similar to a sonically induced culmination of thought.
The album has profound meaning and insight despite the minimal lyrical content which, however brief, enthrall one with intrigue. The Italian maestros weave progressive electronic samples masterfully with the traditional bass, guitar and drum line-up. The vocals are distant, discreet and enchanting and it really makes me wish they had more vocals on their other releases, although I wouldn't be able to point out any lacking parts. The guitar and bass meet and diverge conveying a dazzling mesh of atmospheric sound.
This is a band that evolves on every release, breathing a breath of fresh air into the doom scene. The song-writing is impeccable, the sound is clear and vast, the production is mind bending and can only be truly appreciated on surround sound equipment or through quality headphones, placing you right in the middle of their spatial conjuration, experiencing every nuance first hand.
Similar to but...
Less drone than: Nadja
More ambient than: Minsk, Neurosis
Darker than: Earth, Russian Circles, Pelican
Heavier than: Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Also check out: Lento, Mountain of Judgement
- 100%
Download here: UFOmammut - Eve 2010
