Ufomammut is a band that sounds exactly like their name implies – a colossal, prehistoric elephant lumbering through the cosmos. Their latest release, Eve, exemplifies this sound and takes it to a completely new level of heaviness and groove-infused psychedelia.
The EP, spanning a doom-worthy 45 minutes consists of one track split into five distinct movements. After a few monolithic chords, we are dropped into the first part; a repetitive riff that builds up over its fourteen minutes, more monstrous with each repetition. The mostly unintelligible vocals create a ritualistic atmosphere while subtle accents on the guitars and drums stop things from getting boring before surging into a violent groove riff in the last five minutes.
The rest of the following track continues in a similar fashion: a quiet, ambient passage that builds up to a crescendo of feedback, reverb, fuzz and bass. The third movement in particular, featuring one of the most primal, destructive doom riffs I have had the privilege of hearing as it’s centerpiece! After the semi-predictable “rhythm” created by the previous two tracks, it hits like a punch to the gut. After this it settles back into more of an ebb and flow with the fuzzed-out groove ruling all.
Eve is more than just an album, it is an aural experience that all fans of well-produced, high-feedback stoner doom need to get their hands on! Incidentally, Ufomammut recently announced they have begun work on a new album, and if this is anything to go by, it’s going to blow our collective heads off!
Highlights: The whole thing! But the raw aggression of the third movement that eases up into a chilled, spacey groove in the following track is easily the stand-out moment of the entire piece.
