ORO - Opus Primum

Pink Floyd may have gone to the Dark Side of the Moon, Hawkwind In Search of Space, and the Melvins to Gluey Porch Treatments (whatever that means), but their new millennium space/sludge metal disciples, UFOmammut, have gone to all three and back…several times. In fact, the Italian group's career could very well be summed up by the triumph of developing their own, relatively unique and instantly recognizable sound, and the challenge of remaining consistently inventive within its boundaries. Recent UFOmammut offerings have certainly been more successful as unified groupings of musical movements, meant to be sampled uninterrupted in dark basements (preferably with bong in hand), than for individually stellar songs, and this trend holds true for the band's ambitious sixth album, featuring ten tracks in two parts (the first of which started a new relationship with Neurot Recordings in 2012). Oro: Opus Primum, as it is called, boasts the same lengthy excursions melding cataclysmic sludge/doom, space rock hallmarks and unintelligibly distorted vocals involving all manner of obscure alchemical, metaphysical, and philosophical matters that by now have become quite familiar to all UFOmammut enthusiasts. And yet it still friggin' works! Sure, one must be partial to the group's peculiar sonic template to begin with, and if so, it's almost as though UFOmammut is steadily honing the perfect beast, gradually building upon each lesson learned to contrive increasingly infectious convolutions of the above-listed characteristics, further embellished on Opus Primum material with striking passages of ethereal beauty. As stated earlier, songs don't mean much in the grand scheme of things here, but for the sake of argument, optimum results are probably delivered by "Empirium," "Aureum," and "Magickon," if you'd like to start slowly. However you approach it, though, be ready to commit some time to digesting Oro's monstrous sonic girth. And if more of the same awaits on what is rumored to be called "Opus Alter," UFOmammut may have achieved in Oro their magnum opus.