Customer Reviews

Single Book of Songs By Mammoth Volume

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4 star:		(1)
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I've had this CD for a couple of years now. I picked it up in Sweden on a business trip and was completely blown away. This is a must for fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Spirit Caravan, etc. Heavy when needed, subtle when necessary and always beautiful. Out of their three to date studio recordings, this one is leaps and bounds above the rest. Give it a try, you won't be sorry!

Sweden's Mammoth Volume most often gets lumped in with the so-called stoner rock bands, and perhaps their first two albums justify the categorization. But this, their third album, reveals the quartet to be a band pushing the envelope of what a supposedly retro heavy rock band can do, not unlike Queens of the Stone Age. Sure, they can dig into a very Kyuss-like groove now and again ("Vipera Berus," "K") but they're just as comfortable with acoustic psychedelia ("Aum") and even prog ("To Gloria," "What Happened to Antioch?"). Guitarist Daniel Gustafsson is much more interested in feel and atmosphere than in fancy solos, though he can do that too; he also drops in mellotron and flute where he feels they're appropriate. Mammoth Volume doesn't beat the listener over the head with obvious riffs, but instead follows its own idiosyncratic path, trusting in the listener to follow. Do so and you'll be rewarded.

My jaw dropped when I listened to this CD for the first time. This is truly an instant classic of hard rock. This group from Sweden is going where no other band is these days, mixing heavy riffs with progressive influences to create a totally unique stoner sound. Check out "Vipera Barus," "K," and "The So-called 4th Sect" to hear what I mean. My favorite track, though, is "What Happened in Antioch?" If you like what you hear, buy this CD, then petition for an American tour!!!