Review Summary: "Eve"is an enthralling hymn to the icon of rebellion, beauty and knowledge. Atmospheric, ritualistic and psychedelic, this is a step forward for the band and doom in general.
UFO [,ju:ef'ou] abbreviation of U(nidentified) F(lying) O(bject)
MAMMUT ['mæmmoot] italian for mammoth
This Italian trio has been hovering just below the surface of wide recognition within the doom crowd for quite some time now. Eve is their fifth full length and arguably their most ambitious. The band plays a very atmospheric style of stoner doom and Eve accentuates the atmospheric side even more than previous releases. It effectively gains the listener’s attention with it’s slow building ritualistic fervor. Imagine the cosmic occultism of Electric Wizard combined with the hypnotic rhythms of OM. The soundscapes covered are immense. From the spaced out rhythmic drones to the furious riffing and roaring of vocalist/bassist Urlo. The swarming synth surrounds us like a nebula cloud. We are taken on a journey back to the earliest days of our world. In the words of the band:
“EVE is comprised of one 45-minute atmospheric track. It is divided into five distinct movements and acts as a living homage to the first woman on Earth, and the rebellion to her creator for bringing knowledge to Mankind.”
Basically, this album functions as a hymn to this icon of rebellion and beauty. The first two parts to "Eve" play out like a hypnotic journey back through time and space. The chanting vocals that emerge bring to mind the first words spoken by a creator as earth is shaped. How some of the samples mixed into the album connect with this, I will probably never know but they are a nice touch and add to the mood. The slow rising tension is a huge part of this album and once you start listening it’s hard to stop. By the time "Part III" is reached the doom begins to flow. III and IV are the shortest, doomiest tracks on the album and are similar to some of the more straight forward stoner doom they have played on previous albums. The way the echoing synths mix in with the vocals and riffs are fantastic, very cosmic. The drums on the album are solid and varied with tribal rhythms, thundering fills and very minimal patterns.
"Part V" is a slow burner like many of Ufomammut's ending tracks have been in the past. The writhing riffs turn gut wrenching and a frantic sample create the image of a situation gone horribly wrong. It's like fleeing from the garden. Then there is final peace as the hypnotic intro returns. Eve is an accomplishment. This album stands alongside "Dopesmoker" and "Dopethrone"as one of my favorite stoner doom albums. In comparison to their previous work, I believe the experimentation succeeded. I still wouldn't recommend this for new comers to the genre because of the focus on atmosphere, check out "Idolum" instead and then move on to this. Fans of Ufomammut or doom in general should not miss this one.
