Release Date: May 17th 2024. Record Label: Neurot Recordings / Supernatural Cat Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Hidden: Tracklisting
1.Crookhead
2.Kismet
3.Spidher
4.Mausoleum
5.Leeched
6.Soulost
Band Members
Poia – Guitars
Urlo – Bass, Vocals, Fxs and Synths
Levre – Drums
Review
Cosmic Doom Overlords UFOMAMMUT return with their tenth album Hidden which sees the band return to the heavier and harsher sounds heard from their 2010 classic album EVE. This album has a more sinister and psychedelic energy coming from the depths of the Psychedelic Stoner groove which is also quite melodic, downtuned and distorted at the same time.
Opening track Crookhead was first released last October within the EP of the same name. The track is still fresh and original since its initial release. The multi-layered and Progressive Doom sounds have moments of Drone, Post-Metal and Space Rock energy with Urlo’s dense vocals leading the creative charge.
The album has more Sonic Experimentation with freaky noises and aggressive FX that allows UFOMAMMUT to become quite obsessive with their FUZZED UP atmospherics compared to their last few albums. Hidden has a world-building or perhaps WORLD DESTROYING aspect which brilliantly comes into focus on the tracks Kismet, and Spidher. UFOMAMMUT can be downright mean and nasty with some of their music and it’s perhaps the bleakest we’ve heard from the band over their legendary twenty five year career.
There’s a lot of instrumental overlap with each member providing a backdrop of monolithic grooves with subtle flashes of Sludge/Stoner Metal imagery being quite trippy within the heaviest parts of the album. Amplifier Heaviness is one of the major tools that UFOMAMMUT have at their disposal to keep everything wholly original with a fresh perspective coming into play within the more subdued and quieter parts of the album.
The second half of the album sees UFOMAMMUT pull no punches with their aggressive synths and fuzzed up TEMPO of Progressive instrumental melodies. Urlo’s vocals become slightly crazed and shamanic in places but the overall journey is one of psychedelic destruction with the music becoming more SONIC induced that harks back to some of their earlier sounds whilst giving their music a modern makeover on tracks such as: Mausoleum, Leeched and Soulost.
Hidden is perhaps UFOMAMMUT’s best record since the departure of original drummer Vita and Levre puts in a commanding performance throughout. UFOMAMMUT have earned their reputation as one of the true greats and HEAVYWEIGHTS of the European Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. Hidden just solidifies that fact, and allows this to become one of the standout albums to own this year.
Here’s to the next 25 years of this amazing band…
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to All Noir PR for the promo.
Limited edition vinyl available here: supernaturalcat.com
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
