Monday 18 March 2024

Italian Psychedelic Doom Trio UFOMAMMUT To Release Tenth Album, Hidden, On Neurot Recordings/Supernatural Cat Records On May 17th 2024

Photo Credit: UFOMAMMUT

Italian Psychedelic Doom Trio To Release Tenth Album, Hidden, On Neurot Recordings/Supernatural Cat Records On May 17th;

Animated Video For “Leeched” + Album Details And Preorders Posted!

Italian psychedelic doom metal trio UFOMAMMUT celebrates their 25th Anniversary in 2024 including the release of their massive tenth studio full-length, Hidden. Today, the band confirms the album for May release on Neurot Recordings/Supernatural Cat Records, unveiling the cover art, track listing, preorders, and an animated video for the song “Leeched.”

With the lead single, Poia (guitars, effects) writes, “‘Leeched,’ the first song from the new full-length album Hidden, perfectly represents the new direction of UFOMAMMUT, which began with the album Fenice and continued with the EP Crookhead and reiterates once again that there are no failures or hesitations in our sonic research. The fusion between heaviness and psychedelia, an obsession of the band since the beginning, takes on a new, changing form in ‘Leeched.’”

Watch the metamorphosis of UFOMAMMUT’s “Leeched” transpire via a captivating Malleus-animated video right here, the song is now available on all digital providers:


Rising from the ashes of their prior band Judy Corda, UFOMAMMUT formed in the late 1990s by Poia and Urlo (bass, vocals, effects, synths), together with Vita (drums). With Levre taking over on drums in 2021, the band has undergone a rebirth, culminating in the release of the 2022-released Fenice LP, and on Halloween 2023, the Crookhead EP.

Over the course of two-and-a-half decades, UFOMAMMUT has developed a unique sound that combines heavy, dynamic riff worship with a deep understanding of psychedelic tradition in music, which has resulted in a cosmic, futuristic, and technicolor sound that fully immerses listeners. They’ve produced a wide spectrum of albums, EPs, live albums, a box set, compilation tracks, and covers – including a track on the Superunknown Redux Soundgarden tribute album.

Now, in 2024, as they celebrate their quarter-century milestone, UFOMAMMUT is set to release their tenth LP, Hidden. This album marks a shift in the band's musical composition, aiming for a more intense and heavy sound, as they have displayed over the prior two releases. The title, Hidden, reflects the concept of the presence of everything in our existence and the ability to bring to light what lies within us. With Hidden, the band delves into a sonic journey that traverses vast expanses of space and time. From the crushing heaviness to the hauntingly melodies, from the textured compositions to the otherworldly atmospheres, Hidden testifies to the never-ending evolution of UFOMAMMUT and their mastery of creating immersive sonic experiences: a fitting celebration of their 25 years of sonic exploration and experimentation.

Like any good psychedelic trip, the music of UFOMAMMUT has always been inextricably intertwined with visual art. Poia describes longer compositions, “like a painting,” as if to reinforce the relevance and importance of visual art in their music. And as always, the artwork, videos, and all visuals/graphics for Hidden were created by Malleus Rock Art Lab, the rock/music graphic design collective of which Poia and Urlo are part of with Lu.

Hidden was recorded at Flat Scenario Studio in Piemonte, Italy, with Lorenzo Stecconi handling the mixing and mastering, and Luca Grossi overseeing vocal tracking. 

Hidden will be released on CD, LP, and digital on May 17th, in North America through Neurosis’ Neurot Recordings, the vinyl pressed on a Silver Nugget variant in a gatefold jacket. In Europe, the band’s Supernatural Cat Records will release it, a standard version on 180-gram Marbled Purple And Black variant, and a limited version of 500 copies on 180-gram Crystal Clear variant crafted by hand using photosensitive colors that are activated by sunlight, bringing the concept of the album to life, with multiple bundles and options.

Find US preorders/presaves at Neurot Recordings HERE 
and EU preorders at Supernatural Cat HERE.


Hidden Track Listing:


1. Crookhead
2. Kismet
3. Spidher
4. Mausoleum
5. Leeched
6. Soulost

UFOMAMMUT will be touring regularly in support of Hidden, with a long list of tour dates already announced across Europe and the UK through all of May and into June, with much more being plotted. See the current 25 Years Anniversary Tour listings at the band’s website HERE and stand by for updates.

For More Info Visit:

https://www.ufomammut.com/site/
https://www.facebook.com/ufomammutband
https://twitter.com/ufomammutmafia
https://ufomammut.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/ufomammut
https://www.supernaturalcat.com
https://www.facebook.com/Supernaturalcat666
https://www.instagram.com/SupernaturalCat_recs
https://www.neurotrecordings.com
https://www.facebook.com/neurotrecordings
https://twitter.com/OfficialNeurot
https://neurotrecordings.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/neurotrecordings


UFOMAMMUT is:

Poia – guitars, effects
Urlo – bass, vocals, effects, synths
Levre – drums, effects
Ciccio – soundlord


Thanks to All Noir PR and Neurot Recordings for the info.

Kult Ikon - Black Iron Prison (Album Review)

 

Release Date: March 15th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Black Iron Prison - Tracklisting

1.Norman Fell 07:50

2.Untethered 10:17

3.Lost Sea 11:46

4.Overburden 08:04


Members


John Vincent - Bass

Ryan O'Connell - Drums

Scott Holthausen - Guitar


Review


Instrumental Post-Metallers Kult Ikon return with their second album Black Iron Prison and sees the band explore their Space Doom philosophy even further amongst Progressive Sludge grooves, Post-Rock flourishes and heavy Shoegaze with a hint of Psychedelic sounds holding everything together. The name of the album Black Iron Prison comes from the classic Philip K. Dick novel Valis which gives the album a more science fiction based tone.


The record sees Kult Ikon embrace themes from bands such as Pelican and Russian Circles with heavier moments of Post-Metal methodology appearing on certain stages of the album. The sound has an aura of coldness and solitary Ambient rhythms which is heard within the excellent opening track Norman Fell. The sludgy interludes of aggressive guitars builds up the Cosmic Doom flow for Kult Ikon to play heavier style of Instrumental Doom with atmospheric Sludge Metal movements with traces of Ambient rhythms on the later parts of the track.


Second track Untethered is where Kult Ikon start to experiment with their music and add a multi-layered approach with the Post-Rock/Post-Metal elements that sees the band play a beautifully melodic style of Cosmic Doom and trippy Progressive Sludge Metal. The song can be cautiously slow but Kult Ikon knows when to play a more aggressive and fast-paced style of instrumental sounds that becomes more DOOM obsessed especially within the more Ambient and Cosmic beats that the band employ here.


The final two tracks of Lost Sea and Overburden are more adventurous in places with a classic Doomgaze sound being more dominant especially within the standout third track Lost Sea. There’s a more emotional Post-Rock style appearing which shows a different side to Kult Ikon but with a remorseful Post-Metal edge. The song also allows Kult Ikon to show their more melodic side with a violent Atmospheric Sludge movement taking more creative control on Lost Sea and Overburden.


Black Iron Prison is a superbly made album with a contemporary sound that also offers a more CINEMATIC vision throughout and allows Kult Ikon to create their own style of intense and brilliantly played Instrumental Post-Metal that leaves you wanting more. This is a stunning release that should allow Kult Ikon to enhance their reputation further within the Post-Metal community.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.


Links


Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Burning Realm - Face The Fire (EP Review)

Release Date: March 22nd 2024. Record Label: Tapes Of Wrath. Formats: Cassette/DD

Face The Fire - Tracklisting

1.Homosapien 04:32

2.From Beyond 03:33

3.Face The Fire 05:00

4.Warped One (Arise) 03:11


Members


Michael 'Owensie' Owens (guitar and vocals)

Tob Swift (guitar)

Ror Conaty (drums)


Review


Face The Fire is the debut EP from Psych Stoner Metallers Burning Realm who are from Dublin, Ireland features current and ex-members of No Spill Blood (Svart / Sargent House Records), Venus Sleeps, Wizards of Firetop Mountain, Mongolia, Realistic Train, and Puget Sound.



Burning Realm’s overall sound is dominated and influenced by bands such as Thin Lizzy, Torche, Floor, Thin Lizzy, Sleep and even Yawning Man. There’s also a kinetic Punk Rock energy heard within the down-tuned Sludgy grooves that allows Burning Realm to have a deep meaningful DOWN-TUNED approach and Amplifier Worship melody to their music.


Opening track Homosapien takes that classic style of Sludge/Doom-Pop/Stoner Metal riffage that FLOOR and TORCHE were closely associated with. Burning Realm adds a murky Psychedelic vision and Shamanic Chants within their vocal delivery. The song can be quite meditative and with weird Psychedelic acoustic guitars still retaining a Droned Out melodic energy. The mood is quite out there and wonderfully trippy.


Second song From Beyond channels the High On Fire and Big Business way of life with a classic mid-nineties Stoner Metal attitude from Michael’s vocals. The frantic guitars both played by Michael and Tob works superbly well with Burning Realm offering their own great blend of upbeat and aggressive guitar solos that becomes more impressive when the strands of Classic Hard Rock appear which is then changes to a more chaotic blend of Sludge/Stoner Metal instrumental heaviness and Psychedelic exploration.


The final two tracks Face The Fire and Warped One (Arise) continue that musical journey with flashes of early era The Sword and KYLESA coming from Burning Realm and a soulful sonic interchange with epic drumming from Ror Conaty. Perhaps the most technically impressive and most interesting creative sounds appear within Face The Fire with Burning Realm taking their music into a more Progressive direction.


Face The Fire is a vastly entertaining debut EP which offers a kick-ass style of modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal which I’m hoping to see a more substantial release from Burning Realm in the future. The EP is full of interesting and action packed grooves that leave you wanting to hear more. 


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Super Fi Records for the promo.


Face The Fire will be available to buy on Cassette/Digital Download from Tapes Of Wrath (part of SuperFi Records) from Friday 22nd March 2024.


Links


BandCamp | Instagram


Ash Eater - Breathe The Smoke (Album Review)

Release Date: March 15th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Breathe The Smoke - Tracklisting

1.Earth Must Be Fed 02:12

2.The Siren's Call 03:20

3.Any Port In A Storm 05:00

4.Ritual 07:04

5.Grab The Strands//Take The Light\\Breathe The Smoke 08:06

6.The Warrior's Craze 07:48


Members


Kenny Coombs - Bass/Vocals

Andrew Pugh - Guitar

Alden Elias - Drums


Review


Breathe The Smoke is the second full length album from Doom/Thrash/Stoner Metallers Ash Eater and sees the band return four years after releasing their 2020 debut album. Ash Eater plays a mixture of Thrashed Out Doom/Stoner Metal with comparisons to High On Fire, Motorhead and early era Lord Dying. The band bring a seedy and dirge ridden style of Psychedelic Rock to the album with an aggressive fast-paced sound hat oozes 1980’s Classic Thrash Metal Attitude with a killer Speed Metal flow that works amazingly well with their modern day Psych Stoner Metal approach.


The sound can also be quite progressive on the flashier and trippy moments of the album with Ash Eater having a thrilling creative attitude that matches the more outlandish guitar solos played throughout the album. The production values are handled superbly well with Ash Eater opting for a contemporary and classic sound for Breathe The Smoke with perhaps the Doom Metal aspects offering the vocals to have a more distant vibe to the more “in your face” style of the instrumental passages.


Standout tracks include Any Port In A Storm, Ritual and Grab The Strands//Take The Light\\Breathe The Smoke where Ash Eater changes the sound to a slower change of pace but with DEMONIC persona coming from Kenny’s vocals fully taking over. However, the whole sound of the record starts to experiment with more of that 1980’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal energy where the instrumental solos become flashier and perhaps a bit more OTT that you don’t initially expect. The whole tone is still full of vibrant promise with the sludgy guitars being quite melodic despite the abrasive nature of Ash Eater’s music.


Breathe The Smoke is a gloriously entertaining and bombastic record with a non-stop delivery of intense Heavy Metal guitar sounds that has an superb Doom/Stoner Metal energy that will keep the underground masses happy from start to finish.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Sunday 17 March 2024

Goodbye Meteor - We Could Have Been Radiant (Album Review)

Release Date: February 09th 2024. Record Label: Dunk Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

We Could Have Been Radiant - Tracklisting

1.This Is Not Here 06:15

2.No Signal 06:06

3.Destructuration 07:34

4.What We Are Here For 12:08

5.We Could Have Been Radiant 09:23

6.Phosphenes 01:26


Review


We Could Have Been Radiant is the debut full length from Post-Rock collective Goodbye Meteor whose style of music is building up Ambient Post-Rock Textures and adding Ambient Chill Out sounds before venturing into a heavier layer of Cinematic Rock. The album isn’t what you expect with Goodbye Meteor perhaps using a more long drawn out delivery within the extended Progressive moments that appear on the album.


There’s moments of Shoegaze and Indie Rock within the record especially on the early album tracks such as This Is Not Here and No Signal. I was expecting outbursts of Aggressive Post-Metal mentality from Goodbye Meteor but they stay within the confinements of modern-day Post-Rock. Truth be told the album is perhaps better for this style of music. As the record remains constantly upbeat throughout though there’s multiple moments of sombre Post-Rock attitude which brings a sense of world-building Ambient themes on tracks such as Destructuration and What Are We Here For.


Listening to the album after multiple times you do begin to realise that Goodbye Meteor have their own blend of aggressive Post-Rock energy on the later stages of the album with progressive leaning guitars and subtle Psychedelic effects that can be quite experimental and distorted in places.


The final tracks of the record (What We Are Here For and We Could Have Been Radiant) sees Goodbye Meteor opt for a more reflective style of Post-Rock delivery which bands such as Russian Circles are well known for. The songs are both deliberately slow with the band using their time effectively drifting into the vastness and deep warmth their music generates within the long drawn out instrumental passages. 


I can see why the famed label Dunk!Records signed Goodbye Meteor to their roster. As Goodbye Meteor create some of the most heartwarming style of Post-Rock music you’ll likely to hear in a very long time whilst playing some truly standout and aggressive based movements that only align the listener to the band’s creative cause.


We Could Have Been Radiant is an extraordinary album which showcases how Goodbye Meteor are one of the most original bands to come from the Post-Rock scene in quite some time.


Words by Steve Howe


We Could Have Been Radiant is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Dunk!Records.

Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Mastiff - Deprecipice (Album Review)

Release Date: March 22nd 2024. Record Label: MNRK Heavy. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Deprecipice - Tracklisting

1.Bite Radius

2.Everything is Ending

3.Void 04:07

4.Cut-Throat

5.Skin Stripper

6.Serrated 

7.Worship

8.Pitiful

9.The Shape

10.Thorn Trauma


Members


Vocals - Jim Hodge

Guitar - James Andrew Lee

Guitar - Phil Johnson

Bass - Dan Dolby

Drums - Michael Shepherd


Review


Doom/Hardcore/Sludge Metallers Mastiff opt for an even heavier and uglier sound on their new album Deprecipice that sees the band venture into Post-Metal heaviness with the right amount of violent Progressive melodies lurking within the more melodic parts of the album. Mastiff has a slight Post Hardcore energy within the more subtle parts of the album. Jim Hodge’s lead vocals are consumed by an intense anger but they can also be quite emotional on some of the most hard hitting lyrics the band have written for the album.


Deprecipice is brutally honest with the onslaught of pissed off sludge grooves that have a monolithic and apocalyptic flow to them on tracks such as Bite Radius,  Everything Is Ending and Void allowing Mastiff to capture a destructive void that leads into fast-paced and technically impressive slabs of Doom/Sludge Metal fury. The record is unapologetically nihilistic which is best told through the amount of grindcore blasts and beats which sets Mastiff onto becoming one of the heaviest and most intense bands the UK Sludge Metal scene has right now. 


The production values are off the scale with Mastiff delivering their finest album to date which pulls no punches within the volume department. Deprecipice retains its bleak cinematic vision on more outstanding tracks such as Cut-Throat, Serrated, Worship and Pitiful.


Mastiff delves into the dark arts of Extreme Metal with some first rate vocal experimentation which feels like they’re channelling into another dimension and bringing the true END OF THE WORLD along with them. The vocals range from harsh growls to demonic chants that provide an uneasy feeling especially when matched against distorted noises, grindcore beats and thrashcore breakdowns whilst retaining a Sludge Metal edge.


Mastiff could be compared to bands such as Neurosis, Primitive Man, THOU and Converge on this release as there’s similar creative themes to those amazing bands. However, Mastiff deliver their own blend of Doom/Hardcore/Sludge Metal riffage where they are the Judge, Jury and Executioner for those brave enough wanting to experience this intense album. 


I can see Deprecipice fastly becoming one of the most defining UK Sludge Metal albums of the last decade and one that can easily be described as an absolute masterpiece.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Hold Tight PR for the promo.


Deprecipice will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via MNRK Heavy from Friday 22nd March 2024.


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Saturday 16 March 2024

Leather Lung - Graveside Grin (Album Review)

Release Date: March 15th 2024. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Graveside Grin - Tracklisting

1.Spit in the Casket 04:45

2.Big Bad Bodega Cat 03:49

3.Freewheelin' Maniac 03:19

4.Empty Bottle Boogie 03:21

5.Guilty Pleasure 03:18

6.Macrodose (Interlude) 01:21

7.La La Land 04:27

8.Twisting Flowers 03:39

9.Headstone 04:19

10.Cornered Animal 03:17

11.Raised Me Rowdy 05:00


Members


Mike – vocals

Zach – guitar, vocals

Ben – drums

Jesse – bass, vocals

Greg – guitar


Review


Graveside Grin is the new full length album from Leather Lung and it’s another cool slice of aggressively charged Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal that also has roots in areas of Boogie Rock, WEEDIAN Metal and Psychedelic Rock. The band are known for their glorious Hard Rock swagger which is influenced by bands such as Motorhead, High On Fire and The Melvins and this record continues that seedy Hard Rocking charm with a more Punk Rock attitude appearing within the lyrics and the excellent vocals by lead vocalist Mike.


There’s a certain Crossover Thrash Metal sound that appears within Graveside Grin which gives Leather Lung a more MATURE and THREATENING presence compared to their previous acclaimed releases. The music is always constantly engaging with Leather Lung delivering intense grooves, riffs and spliffs within almost every song. The album has a classic NOLA/Southern Metal feeling on the first three tracks of the album with Spit Of The Casket, Big Bad Bodega Cat and Freewheelin’ Maniac showcasing a different side from the Boston, Massachusetts natives.


Leather Lung deploys a seedy melodic tone which does tend to become more riff focused as time goes on. However, Leather Lung keep with their Sludge/Stoner Metal beliefs on more outlandish tracks such as Empty Bottle Boogie,  La La Land, Headstone and Raised Me Rowdy. The riffs and vocals are continuously engaging and superbly entertaining from a band who know how to write a lean and mean seedy groove.


The album can be more extreme when the vocals opt for a more Harsh/Death Metal vocal style but they always remain easy to understand but it shows that Leather Lung aren’t afraid to change their musical style for a more uncompromising blend of music to fully appear. However, Graveside Grin is a superb debut release from Leather Lung that delivers maximum thrills and spills throughout the album. 


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.


Graveside Grin is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records (US) / Magnetic Eye Records (EU)


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram