THE MON - Songs Of Abandon (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Supernatural Cat. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Songs Of Abandon - Tracklisting

1.Smiling Dog 02:18

2.Two Stones 03:54

3.The Hidden Ghost 05:08

4.Hourglass 03:22

5.The Moon And The Devil 03:25

6.Mayhem 03:22

7.Little Bird 03:33

8.The Fluorescent Sand 02:31

9.Beautiful Star 04:10

10.Your Eyes 03:26

Lineup

Urlo - Everything

Review

Drone/Doom/Ambient artist THE MON is back with their new album Songs Of Abandon which is the first part of "Embrace The Abandon" which is a two-chapter journey that explores loss and rebirth. For folks not in the know, THE MON is the solo project of Urlo (Bass/Vocals) from the legendary Doom Metallers UFOMAMMUT. This project is about as far as you can possibly get from UFOMAMMUT with Urlo exploring musical genres such as Drone, Ambient, Americana, Folk, Electronica and Alternative Sounds.

Songs Of Abandon is a gloomy experience with THE MON creating a minimal and solitary experience that’s full of emotional wonder with Urlo’s tender vocals set against his Post-Doom instrumental surroundings and subtle Ambient effects. There is a lovely and affectionate style of melody that develops very early on from the opening tracks of Smiling Dog and Two Stones which can be quite carefree and influenced by the dark sounds of the Sixties and Seventies rock scene.

This is quite a different affair compared to THE MON’s 2023 critically acclaimed album THE EYE as Urlo is doing everything himself here where THE EYE had major guest contributions from the likes of Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Colin H. Van Eeckhout (Amenra),Sarah Pendleton (Subrosa, The Otolith) and David W. (White Hills). Songs Of Abandon allows THE MON to go back closer to their earlier releases but still maintaining a similar style heard on THE EYE.

The music is quite experimental and brilliantly therapeutic especially within the standout third track The Hidden Ghost which has a grounded Country/Americana approach whilst adding Post-Doom and Drone based movements within the darker aspects of the track. Urlo’s vocals are earnest and superbly real that offer a stark contrast to his work with UFOMAMMUT. The song works best when the Drone aspect takes charge in the later stages as this album ventures briefly into the domain of Psych Rock and Space Rock soundscapes.

The haunting fourth track Hourglass explores that Space Rock angle for the first few seconds before settling upon an excellent style of Acoustic Doom groove with Urlo’s vocals being its most daring and remarkably honest with some experimental background vocals giving it an outlandish quality. The subtle flashes of semi-acoustic Psychedelic sounds once again twists the creative narrative where you begin to notice the smaller things being played in the background. As this is a superbly realized multi-layered track that will surprise you of how it ultimately plays out and changes the course for the rest of the album.

Songs Of Abandon flirts with a vivid assortment of different musical styles that are constantly evolving which makes this one of the most unique and engaging solo albums I’ve heard in quite some time and THE MON keeps on delivering songs of real beauty and quality especially on tracks such as The Moon And The Devil, Mayhem and Little Bird. However, THE MON still offers moments of intense DOOM & GLOOM quality which gives an unsettling feeling at times but the sheer cinematic and emotional scope that Urlo fully commits himself to is a joy to behold.

The songwriting on the album is simply magnificent and so is Urlo’s musical abilities which once again showcases a different side to his work on UFOMAMMUT. The album becomes quite adventurous with flashes of Post-Rock and Gothic Doom that surprised me in many different ways which appear on tracks Mayhem and Little Bird developing into hazy areas of trippy psychedelics that left me wanting more.

Songs Of Abandon is an absolutely exquisite record that shows how THE MON are at the top of their game with their most deeply rewarding and brilliantly engaging record to date. I can’t wait to hear part two to see where this extraordinary journey takes me. Until then, Songs Of Abandon is a record you all need to experience as soon as possible.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to THE MON for the promo.

Songs Of Abandon is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Supernatural Cat.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

UFOMAMMUT - Fenice (Album Review)

Release Date: May 06th 2022. Record Label: Neurot Recordings/Supernatural Cat. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Fenice - Tracklisting

1.Duat

2.Kepherer

3.Psychostasia

4.Metamorphoenix

5.Pyramind

6.Empyros

Members

Poia – Guitars and Fxs

Urlo – Bass, Vocals, Fxs and Synths

Levre – Drums & Fxs

Review

Ufomammut gave the Doom/Stoner Metal world a massive shock when they announced they were splitting up back in 2020. After 9 wildly successful albums the band had decided to call it a day due to creative differences on where to take the band next. 

Fast forward a year later the band reformed to a massive sigh of relief from the Metal community though this time without longtime drummer and founding member Vita who is focusing on his other musical project Sonic Wolves.

Ufomammut have a new member and drummer (Levre) in their ranks and he’s a welcome addition to the Ufomammut family. Fenice (meaning Phoenix in Italian) is their 10th album and sees the band opt for a “back to basics” approach” with its Electronica and Psychedelic centric theme. The record was apparently meant to be one long single track before wisely being split into six individual parts.

This record feels like the spiritual successor to their classic album EVE with its style of Psychedelic Spaced Out Doom/Stoner Metal though focusing firmly more on Heavy Electronica sounds. There are elements to this record that feel and sound like Urlo’s solo project THE MON with its gloomy and abrasive themes held on the album. However, this truly remains an UFOMAMMUT record through and through with the distorted guitars and ambient spaced out themes.

Fenice opens with the brilliant opening song Duat. A song that passes the 10:30 minute mark with fast=paced grooves with a classic Psych/Space Rock backdrop for everything to be held together with. The music moves from slow-paced dimensions to a more aggressive style towards the end of the song which feels inspired by Motorhead in places.

Vocals on this album are sparse to begin with and only appear when they need to. Fenice feels like Ufomammut of old reconnecting with the later stages of their career and finding common ground to move on with future challenges with this release.

The album contains elements of Drone Music which we haven’t heard in a long time from the band, well not as good as this. Each song tells an intruding chapter of music of their own which does allow the band to play different styles of Doom/Stoner Metal but just be prepared for those ELECTRONICA vibes to dictate the whole album.

All of the songs are equally as good as each other. I can’t choose my favourite song at this time but if I’m pushed to do so then Psychostasia, Metamorpheonix and Pyramind come to mind. As Ufomammu really thrive on these tracks especially when the fantastic vocals appear which adds an extra layer of gloomy based heaviness.

Fenice is perhaps Ufomammut's most complete, adventurous and best release since EVE. Ufomammut had to take a step back and reassess their musical choices over the last decade and they’ve succeeded by reinventing themselves yet again as one of the underground's most original and constantly brilliant Doom/Stoner Metal bands out there.

Fenice is a breathtaking display of vivid ideas, themes and heavy grooves that allows Ufomammut to release one of the wildest and most thrilling Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal albums of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo.

Fenice will be available to buy from the links below from May 06th 2022.

LP and CD physical copies available for purchase here: neurotrecordings.merchtable.com

Limited edition vinyl available here: supernaturalcat.com

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp