Mammoth Mammoth - 'Volume IV: Hammered Again' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 27 March 2015

Label: Napalm Records

‘Volume IV: Hammered Again’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1.  Life’s A Bitch
2.  Lookin´ Down The Barrel
3.  Electric Sunshine
4.  Fuel Injected
5.  Black Dog
6.  Promised Land 
7.  Reign Supreme
8.  Sick (Of Being Sick)
9.  Hammered Again
10. High as a Kite
11. Alcohol (Bonus Track)

Mammoth Mammoth is

Ben Couzens | Guitars
Mikey Tucker | Vocals
Frank Trobbiani | Drums
Pete Bell | Bass

Review

Honesty, in a position such as this, is everything. When reviewing an album we writers are tasked with listening to the music in question impartially, describing it colourfully and giving you a true-to-life flavour of what it sounds like along with our opinions of the release – and those opinions must be well balanced. And so, if you asked me for my opinion on Mammoth Mammoth’s fourth record, ‘Hammered Again,’ after only my first spin, my honest opinion would be one of great disappointment, of an expectation that fell flat and that my initial excitement fizzling out. The Australian band is one I am greatly fond of. Their brand of rock n’ roll is bullshit proof and as rough as a hangover after a night out on the town with the Toxic Twins. Their sound was once aptly described as “AC/DC taking mushroom with Motörhead,” and it’s a sound that, for me, always hits the spot. Their previous album especially, the raucous ‘Hell’s Likely,’ was astoundingly good fun. But after my first listen of ‘Hammered Again’ I was very let down. In fact, I didn’t even make it through the entire album, it just seemed flat, lacking in that skull bashing revelry and hell-bent magic in which their previous records had in droves. But ask me now, after god knows how many spins at ASBO-invitingly loud volumes and I’ll tell you that this album is the dog’s bollocks.

Sure, there is little in the way of ingenuity in Mammoth Mammoth’s sound, but they take the already emphatic rock n’ roll formula and pour in added dynamite, ripping apart your speakers so brilliantly in the process. There are countless bands doing what these guys are in resurrecting the sounds of rock’s supposed glory days, and so it takes a special band to stand out from the crowd. On ‘Hammered Again,’ Mammoth Mammoth do just that, unleashing riffs with menace, even flirting with sludge metal on the belligerent ‘Promised Land’ which is a brutal sucker punch of a song. Its leading riff is a pile driver of down tuned, unapologetic grunting, moulded to a template more in keeping with rock’s blues based foundations. That infusion is devastating and is a highlight in a record packed to the rafters with hellishly fun moments to raise a smile to even the most miserable of bastards.

The thing is with these Melbournites is that they manage to cram their hard rock, glam, doom, stoner, psychedelic, blues and sludge influences onto one bite size palette – and such variety is never overbearing, it just makes sense. From the rollicking opener of ‘Life’s A Bitch,’ with its poignant and light hearted refrain of “life’s a bitch and then you die,” to the final track’s doom and blues laden psychedelic forage into the edifices of your twisted brain, the album is a complete and utter triumph.        

‘Lookin’ Down The Barrel’ digs up the corpse of Rocks era Aerosmith before sticking a whisky in one hand and a spliff in the other. It’s part rambunctious rock n’ roll, part stoner friendly, smoke shrouded stonerism with a chorus which encapsulates the band’s signature rollick.

‘Electric Sunshine’ meanwhile capes itself in a slower, more grinding tempo with contagious lyrics and ‘Fuel Injected’ is an adrenaline packed punk rock number that conjures up images of driving down a barren desert road, with this blasting at full volume. The gears are sifted through yet again with ‘Black Dog’ which, with its foot pressed firmly on the accelerator is absolutely top drawer.

For sludgier, guitars-so-hairy-they-should-have-their-own-facial-hair moments, ‘Promised Land’ is a guttural crowd pleaser. Led by a riff thicker than every single guest to have ever appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show, it’s innately blues laden to the core, nailed with an uplifting chorus, is what really gets the blood pumping. By the time ‘Reign Supreme’s’ trebly, Motörhead circa Iron Fist bass riff makes a dart for your ear drums, I’m left with a great big grin slapped across my face.

I can’t really recall the moment this album clicked with me – the moment, like a bully emptying your pockets, flipped me upside down and shook me senseless – but I’m so glad it happened. As someone who has followed this band for a while, I really wanted to dig this album. And yes, it took longer to convince me than I’d hoped, but my patience has been rewarded with a definite go to album for some time. Top work lads.

Words: Phil Weller

‘Volume IV: Hammered Again’ is available here

For more information:

www.facebook.com/mammothmammothband | www.mammothmammoth.com | https://twitter.com/mammothxmammoth

The Sludgelord News: Daily Digest

Your rundown of the top sludge news stories of the day …

PSYCHO CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL - Festivals are all the rage in Europe, they make-up an important part of the European musical identity, but festival culture has lagged behind stateside. A number of stoner, doom and sludge related festivals have cropped up in the Eastern and Midwestern United States in recent years, but the West Coast has been sorely lacking for major festivals, until now. The PSYCHO CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL is set to take place on May 15-17, 2015 at The Observatory in Santa Ana.

So who’s going to be there? The festival lineup reads like a who’s who in doom: Kylesa, OM, Earth, Russian Circles, Bedemon, Conan, Wrench, Eyehategod, Indian, Earthless, Pallbearer, Stoned Jesus, Old Man Gloom, Cave In, Acid Witch, Truckfighters, Tombs, Bang, Electric Citizen, Coffinworm, SubRosa, Eagle Twin, Mammatus, True Widow, Anciients, Bellwitch, Dead Meadow, Lord Dying, Death By Stereo, Radio Moscow, Ancient Altar, Samsara Blues Experiment, Atriarch, Elder, Mothership, The Well, Deathkings, Wo Fat, Rozamov, Destroyer of Light, Highlands, Bloodmoon, Slow Season, Goatsnake, Crypt Trip, Wrench, Lords of Beacon House, Tumbleweed Dealer, Sinister Haze, Blackout, Red Wizard, Banquet and Loom.

But the biggest news of the day came with the announcement of the festival’s headlining bands and they are eye-popping to say the least. CULT OF LUNA is set to close out the first night (May 15), SLEEP the second (May 16) and the legendary PENTAGRAM will close out the festival by performing First Daze Here in its entirety on day three (May 17).

Ticket prices for the festival range from $149.50 for a three day pass to $256.66 for a three day VIP pass.

http://psychoca.com/

https://www.facebook.com/psychocalifornia 

Source:

Speakeasy PR

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GRAVES AT SEA - After a nine year hiatus, Portland, OR band GRAVES AT SEA made a huge splash with last year's split record with Sourvein. So it comes as no great surprise that the band has struck a deal with one of the top labels in the underground metal world. Relapse Records revealed today that the label has signed the sludge veterans to a record deal. The band plans to record their first full-length record this summer at Audio Alchemy Studios in Portland, OR with producer Greg Wilkinson.

The band had this to say:

"So now this is gonna happen…We're proud to say our first full length ever is coming out on Relapse Records. Relapse has been extremely cool to work with and we think it's going to be a killer fit. Cheers. DFFD."

https://www.facebook.com/GravesAtSea

http://instagram.com/gravesatseaband

http://www.relapse.com

Source:

Relapse Records

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MAMMOTH MAMMOTH - Napalm Records released details regarding Australian retro rockers MAMMOTH MAMMOTH’s upcoming album. Aside from the gourgeous cover, worldwide release dates were also revealed. ‘Volume IV: Hammered Again’ will be released March 27 in Australia and Europe, March 30 in the U.K. and April 7 in the U.S. and Canada. A limited first edition digipack CD will include the bonus track, “Alcohol”. The album will also be available on vinyl with limited runs of gold vinyl (X100), purple vinyl (X100) and gatefold sleeve and picture disc (X500).

For More Info Visit:
www.mammothmammoth.com
www.facebook.com/mammothmammothband
www.napalmrecords.com
www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

Source:

Freeman Promotions

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CANCER BATS - Changing gears now, Canadian hardcore act CANCER BATS have announced a U.S. headlining tour to begin March 15 in Detroit, MI. The tour will take the band on nine dates through the Midwest down into Texas, then back north along the eastern seaboard, closing out at Saint Vitus bar in Brooklyn on the 28^th. The band will be showcasing new material from their upcoming ‘Searching for Zero’ album slated for a March release through Metal Blade Records. The album can be pre-ordered right now at the band’s website and through Metal Blade’s website. Cancer Bats will be sharing the stage with fellow Canadian hardcore band Exalt on the tour.

Here are the details:

3/15/2015 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
3/16/2015 Fubar -St. Louis, MO
3/17/2015 SXSW - Austin, TX
3/23/2015 The End - Nashville, TN
3/24/2015 Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
3/25/2015 Underground Arts - Philadelphia, PA
3/26/2015 Cake Shop - New York, NY
3/27/2015 Middle East - Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
3/28/2015 Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY

See for more info:

http://www.metalblade.com/cancerbats
http://www.facebook.com/cancerbats 

Source:

Earsplit PR

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CHERUBS - Noise Rock is making a comeback. It’s been well over 30 years since Sonic Youth showed a world dominated by the rock n roll minimalism of punk rock that you don’t even need to know two chords in order to rock out. The band influenced a generation of disaffected youth, not the least of whom was Kurt Cobain, to simply pick up a guitar and wail away. But it seems the Noise Rock scene isn’t making a comeback all by itself. After 20 years away, noise rockers CHERUBS have returned to lend a helping hand to the revival.

The Texas trio’s new album ‘2 Ynfynyty’ will be available March 3 on Brutal Panda Records. You can stream the first single, ‘Crashing the Ride’ at Noisey. Fans of Whores will want to take a listen. Cassette and vinyl pre-orders are available here, while digital pre-orders can be taken right here.

www.facebook.com/CherubsTX 
Brutal Panda Records on Facebook
Brutal Panda Records Official Site

Source:

Brutal Panda Records

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DARK FUNERAL - Do you like grease paint and burning down churches? Do you feel the utter desolation and futility of existence? If you do, chances are, despite how you feel, you’re not alone and Century Media’s got a place for you to congregate, with a new preacher to boot. The theater of worship is youtube and the subject is Swedish Black Metal band DARK FUNERAL’s new single ‘Nail Them To The Cross’.

The single features the debut of the band’s new vocalist Heljarmadr and will be available from February 23 on 7” vinyl and digitally. There will be 1000 vinyl copies, 500 black and 500 blue and they will be hand-numbered. You can grab yourself a copy through CM Distro and at live shows (see dates below). The label will start taking pre-orders January 26.

You can watch the “Nail Them To The Cross” video here.

Catch DARK FUNERAL live:
23.01.2015 Meh Suff! Winterfestival - Zürich CH
20.02.2015 Blastfest - Bergen, NO
15.05.2015 Steelfest - Hyvinkaa, FIN (Special TSOTBA set)
19.06.2015 Nummirock - Nummijarvi, FIN
04.07.2015 In Flammen Open Air - Torgau, DE
22.08.2015 Kaltenbach Open Air - Spital am Semmering, Austria

DARK FUNERAL online:
https://www.darkfuneral.se
https://wwwfacebook.com/darkfuneral
https://www.youtube.com/darkfuneral
https://www.twitter.com/darkfuneral
https://www.instagram.com/darkfuneralofficial
www.instagram.com/lordahrimanofficial

Century Media Records online:
http://www.centurymedia.com
http://www.myspace.com/centurymediaeurope
http://www.youtube.com/centurymedia
www.twitter.com/centurymediaeu
www.facebook.com/centurymedia
http://gplus.to/centurymedia

Century Media webshop:
www.cmdistro.com

Source:

The Noise Cartel

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MORGOTH  - And finally, in keeping with the day’s theme of bands returning after a lengthy hiatus, German death metal band MORGOTH will return with a new studio album after a 19 year absence, Century Media revealed.

The 11-track album, ‘Ungod’ will be released March 30 in Europe and April 7 in the U.S. and Canada. You can stream the new single, “Black Enemy” right here on soundcloud.

“After 18 years we can finally present a first glimpse at our new full length album “Ungod”!” the band said in a press release. “We started with the songwriting in January 2013 and finished the recording process by the end of December 2014. It was an awesome experience to go through the sometimes very complex and challenging process of writing and recording an album again.

“Our goal was to present some real Morgoth-style Death Metal, which closes the gap between “Cursed” and “Odium”. We hope that we have achieved this goal and our supporters and friends will like the final outcome.

“The idea behind the song “Black Enemy” is that this evil force rests within all of us and all we can do is trying to keep that beast under control. The “Black Enemy” represents the dark and destroying part inside of us and the lyrics deal with someone who is not able to control it anymore, committing a murder in the end”.

According to the comments on Soundcloud, reaction to the new song has been enthusiastic. You can catch Morgoth live throughout the year at the following dates and places:

MORGOTH Live 2015:
17.01.               GER       Pretzschendorf / Dresden       Break The Silence Festival
20.02.               NOR       Bergen                                  Blastfest       
26.03.               GER       Hamburg                               Bambi Galore *
27.03.               GER       Berlin                                     Cassiopeia *
28.03.               GER       Würzburg                               Cafe Cairo *
29.03.               GER       Wermelskirchen                      AJZ Bahndamm  *
19.06.               DEN       Copenhagen                          Copenhell Festival
20.06.               BEL        Dessel                                   Graspop Metal Meeting
21.06.               FRA       Clisson                                   Hellfest      
26.-28.06.         GER       Protzen                                  Protzen Open Air   
30.07.-01.08.     GER      Wacken                                 Wacken Open Air     
13.-15.08.         GER       Dinkelsbühl                            Summer Breeze Open Air
* “Ungod” release shows with DESERTED FEAR as main support

MORGOTH Online:
www.facebook.com/MorgothOfficial
www.morgoth-band.org

Century Media Records Online:
http://www.centurymedia.com
http://www.myspace.com/centurymediaeurope
http://www.youtube.com/centurymedia
http://www.twitter.com/centurymediaeu
http://www.facebook.com/centurymedia

Century Media Webshop:
http://www.cmdistro.com

Source:

The Noise Cartel

Interview with Mammoth Mammoth

For a band that dub themselves ‘more awesome than God’s tits,’ getting an interview from Mammoth Mammoth, a band teetering just on the right side of insanity, was never going to be easy. It would take 5 weeks and countless emails to hear anything from a band too focused on grabbing Europe by its big, hairy balls to sit down for a little chinwag  and understandably so. Their first tour of the continent, the jaunt marked an important stepping stone in the band’s progress and development. This, alongside having their music used in TV commercials and the arm wrestling with naked woman are the topics of conversation with drummer Frank Trobbiani.  


SL: You've been touring across the UK and Europe recently, how do you feel the tour has gone?

Frank: It’s been amazing! We knew we had some kind of following here in Europe, but to play to these rowdy fuckers has been great. You guys really know how to party, that’s for sure. And none of the band have ended up in hospital, so we are claiming the tour a massive success.

SL: An Aussie friend of mine described you as a "very Australian" sounding band, would you agree with that, does Australia have its own brand of rock n' roll per se?

Frank: In the hard rock genre, yeah maybe we have an Australian sound. But there are a lot of bands that come out of Australia that sound like they could be from anywhere really. If anything, bands from Australia generally grow out of the pub scene, it’s rowdy, loose and fucking chaotic. We play to smaller crowds in that scene, so you have this personal connection with the audience; we involve them as much as they get us charged up. Mikey [Tucker, vocals] likes to go missing in action from the stage and lose himself in the crowd as a result of this. I think that feeling of ‘all being in this crazy shit fight together’ at a show is very Australian and that’s also very MAMMOTH MAMMOTH.

SL: Looking on your website it says your tracks have been licensed for commercials and the film "The loved Ones," could you tell me a little bit more about how that came about?

Frank: Straight from our first EP, ‘Let’s Roll’ was used in the horror film ‘The Loved Ones’, which had success at film festivals. We were contacted directly by the film company for that. ‘Weapon of Mass Self Destruction’ was licensed for a German power tool company in an advertisement where they built this giant concrete fist to smash shit up – it was actually pretty cool. We are open to licensing our songs but only if the idea is mammoth.

SL: Has having your songs gain such exposure had a positive impact?

Frank: It’s had a positive impact on our beer money budget.

SL: You recently signed to Napalm Records for the release of 'Hell's Likely,' has having a bigger label supporting you helped in anyway? 

Frank: Napalm have been a great partner for us. They totally get us and what we are about, that may sound odd but a lot of people don’t. They’ve released our back catalogue in Europe and the USA, so that’s been a massive help for our exposure. They were also pretty instrumental in bringing us to Europe to tour. To say the least, that’s been a killer effort on their part – and we’ve had a blast! Good dudes

.

SL: The cover for 'Hell's Likely features a rather attractive naked woman. So, first of all what was the thinking behind that and secondly, how has the cover been received, has it helped lure in new fans?

Frank:  Right, well to us, a cover is just as important as the songs. We design all our art work ourselves, although we do get photographers, illustrators and directors involved in the production, but always people associate with MAMMOTH MAMMOTH. That way the images are more strongly connected to us and the music. A cover has to be a part of the overall idea that we want to create for a particular album or show etc. With Hell’s Likely-VOL III, it was all about creating artwork that was timeless and impossible to ignore.

This was shot at The Black Spur, a forest just out of Melbourne that was totally destroyed by fire. It’s right on our doorstep, we could see the fires blazing from the city while we were playing a festival that day - and that forest was a favourite place of ours to hang out and jam. It was hell. It was brutally devastating. Whole towns burnt to the ground. So it seemed apt as a starting point. The Bush girl, who features in the imagery, lives in the woods there and survived that mayhem. We got talking and drinking with her and threw some ideas around. She agreed to be part of the project and appear in the video too. She’s very cool and very talented and very dangerous and very rarely wears much clothing. She’s strong as an ox too, and beat all of us at arm wrestling and drinking – except Bones, because he cheats. From what we hear, people love this cover.


SL. So what's next for Mammoth Mammoth after this tour?

Frank: Some moderate rehab; then we start working with Napalm Records and our producer, Jason PC, on VOL 4.

We reckon we’ll be getting noisy and messy in the studio around April or May 2014 - then head back to Europe (and possibly the USA) to tour at the end of the year. We have unfinished business in Europe and want to hit some cities and countries we missed on the last tour. So we strongly advise you call your lawyer, rob your dealer and get prepared for our second coming! See you all then ~ and stay MAMMOTH!

Mammoth Mammoth are:
Ben Couzens – Guitars
Mikey Tucker – Vocals
Frank Trobbiani – Drums
Pete Bell – Bass

Interview by : Phil Weller

For more information : 

https://www.facebook.com/mammothmammothband

http://www.mammothmammoth.com/