Review by Chris Van Etten for Ufomammut - Godlike Snake (2000)

This is some sick shit. Although Italian trio Ufomammut seem to get tagged (to the best of my knowledge) as a prog-Metal band, this record is gloriously Stoner. Like, Hardcore Stoner Metal. Ufomammut are heavier than most Stoner bands, and there are no soft edges or sugar coating. The sound is HUGE. Interestingly, the vocals are way down in the mix and effects drenched, putting them underneath the bass and guitar, and more or less on the same volume level as the keyboards. Yes, keyboards. Don’t let that scare you, the keys are used mainly as sound effects and accents, and they work quite well. As pummeling as “Godlike Snake” is, there is room for groovier moments, like on “Snake” and “Smoke,” the latter of which has a buildup which sounds a lot like Hawkwind, so I guess I get the prog thing. This is also the only track which really has any sort of jammy element. Otherwise, when the tracks stretch out, they tend to be more monotonous and droney. However, it never gets boring. Well, except maybe in the middle of the last track, which has nothing but a heartbeat for about two minutes. Small complaint though. Much of that track (a 19 minute epic entitled Hozomeen, which is either one song or two, depending on the version of the album) rests on a two-note bass line. I’m impressed by how Ufomammut keep things so minimal, so simple. One mistake musicians often make is to play to the extent of their abilities, to avoid playing things which may be too “easy.” Ufomammut don’t do that, and there is power in the simplicity. My favorite track is “Superjunkhead,” which starts as one of the more brutal numbers, then rips into an awesome two note bass line (they’re good at that), not unlike Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell” (What’s a Stoner Metal review without a Sabbath reference, and a Dio one at that?). Highly recommended, and I’m looking forward to delving into their later releases.