Release
date: September 22nd 2017. Label: Neurot Recordings (US)/Supernatural
Cat Records (Europe) Format: CD/DD/VInyl
8
– Tracklisting
1. Babel
2. Warsheep
3. Zodiac
4. Fatum
5. Prismaze
6. Core
7. Wombdemonium
8. Psyrcle
Members
Urlo
Poia
Vita
Review
The
last two Ufomammut albums, 2012's Oro: Opus Primium And Opus Altar
and 2015's Ecate were the bands first releases for Neurot Recordings
in North America and Supernatural Cat Records in Europe. This saw the
bands songs and production elevating them to new levels through their
sheer power.
With
their latest and eighth album (again on Neurot/Supernatural Cat),
they have raised the bar again with a phenomenal display of intensity
and the songs take on their own sense of epic power. The riffs that
propelled the band from their earliest material are still there in
spades and they sound fresh and fuller than ever on this record and
just as hypnotising.
It
is these hypnotic riffs that are the cornerstone of the Ufommammut
sound and sound bigger than ever, riffs that could destroy planets,
such is their power. They also have a graceful nature to them too
though and sound human and real with soul and depth to them despite
their massively heavy sound.
The
riffs are not the whole story obviously though and the bass and drums
form a formidable backdrop for the riffs to snake around and all
three of these elements congregate together to overwhelm you with
that constantly satisfying Ufomammut barrage of pure sound. Add to
this the bands trademark droning vocals and more fantastic use of
synthesizers and you have an album that will delight any fans of
doom, sludge, stones, drone and many more styles of heavy music.
From
opening track, the mammoth Babel to the spacey closet Psyrcle, the
riffs and grooves come not thick and fast but thick, slow and encased
in a hazy groove but with enough power to more than satisfy the
heaviest appetites of rabid fans.
From
epic tracks like Babel and the monumental Zodiac to more shorter,
more precise but no less impressive tracks like the riffs that appear
like a massive cloud of smoke on Warsheep, the fantastic vision of
Prismaze and the haunting Wombdemonium to name but a few, this is a
masterclass in heavy riffing and aggressive but hazy grooves that you
will not tire of listening to.
The
trio of bassist and vocalist Urlo, guitarist Poia and drummer Vita
play their hearts out and the band have matured into a formidable
musical unit with the songs taking on lives of their own both as
single entities and as a whole, in fact the entire album is a trip to
listen to from start to finish.
Ufomammut
have been steadily growing as a band with each album they release and
when the results are as good as they are on 8, it has been well worth
the wait for each record. The bands next challenge is just how they
will top such a momentous and powerful album like this.
Words by Gavin
Brown
8
will be released to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Neurot Recordings (US) and
Supernatural Cat Records (Europe) from September 22nd
2017.
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