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A Single Book of Songs Mammoth Volume |
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My first thoughts upon hearing the first track, "To Gloria" was that this must be some sort of lost Zeppelin recording that fell by the wayside and done under a different name prior to the advent of that famous moniker… I mean, we're drawing to extremes here but it's got that big early '70s big Rock sound and crashing beat that the world renowned were always known for and never quite duplicated with any real integrity… and MV employs a sound that's certainly derivative of those classic Rock types-bare boned, rootsy, hypnotic and altogether hip. The vibe becomes ostensibly heavier as they increase the juice on "Vipera Berus" and the wildly swinging "K," both reminiscent of everybody's favorite Queens' while still attending to the needs of their retro Rock fixation recalling the likes of Nazareth or even Budgie, to a lesser degree. Mammoth Volume's third record follows up their critically acclaimed self-titled debut and "Noara Dance" EP without just following in their footsteps. The fine art of progression has taken hold and done so in rather dexterous terms. With technical precision, rangy time changes and plenty of groove, the Swedish rockers prove they've got the skill to add another dimension to a craft that's otherwise looked for aid in stagnation and treadmill-like progress. "Aum" offers cunning evidence that they're expiration date is still well off with its flighty instrumental patterns and sitar-based flavor while its follow up "The So Called 4th Sect" brings home the Zeppelin reference of earlier along with Bad Company in a Blues-based swamp and Boogie movement that immediately slings you back some thirty years and the dawn of what was to be a most formative period in Rock & Roll history. Aside from the trip through brighter times, Mammoth Volume reveals an oft-overlooked side to a style that for all its fun and frolic, held true to a veritable degree of serious intonation where a statement can and should be made while the listener basks in the afterglow of a burning guitar riff and colorful keyboard arrangement. This is a very organic sounding record, painted with a cavalcade of instrumental styles and cagey rhythms-definitely a step above the usually manic-depressive norm and an adventuresome foray to the past while exploring the future in an intellectually dazzling brilliance. Released by The Music Cartel Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |