Acid Mammoth is a band from Athens, Greece that offers a sound that incorporates elements of Doom, Acid and a massive dose of Stoner in its heavier side. The lineup features bass, drum and an unusual couple of father and son playing guitars, highlighted on the cover by the names Chris Babalis Jr. and Chris Babalis Sr. The band is on their second record release titled “Under Acid Hoof,” released on January 24, 2020 via Heavy Psych Sounds Records and available on LP, CD and Digital. The album contains 5 medium-long duration songs for a total of just over 35 minutes, developing their musical idea respecting the expectations with linearity and always following their common thread. The opener “Them!” it is the shortest track on the album, but certainly not without impact, immediately catapulting us into a dark atmosphere made of massive and hypnotic Doomy riffs. The rhythmic session consists of a penetrating and deep bass with a drum with a pachydermic cadence, marking the time in line with the sounds of the band. The vocal is clean and fits in well with the music adding an even more Sabbathian touch to the track. “Tree of Woe” is instead the longest track on the album and features granite sounds, where Psychedelic and Sludge veins mix with the imposing Doom that underlies their sound. With a powerful rhythmic session but slowed down with some sporadic acceleration more technical than tempo change, with a hypnotic bass that increases the sonic impact of the track. The guitars are the protagonists with massive riffs and solo inserts that intertwine, exasperating what is the main theme and the vocal offers another concrete and well-interpreted proof. “Tusks of Doom” further slows down the rhythm, the guitars are scratchy and lysergic and the vocal emphasizes the funeral atmosphere that pervades the song. The riffs perpetrated beyond belief, the slow dragging of the drum, the intense sound of the bass and the singing envelop and transport us for the duration of the song, without too many jolts but still engaging. “Jack the Riffer” is always characterized by a slow but powerful rhythmic session on which a very dark atmosphere is created with the characteristic sound the band is accustoming us to. In this piece the noisy component of sounds is more pronounced, the bass seems to come out of the speakers and the vocal does the rest with effected strokes. The guitar intertwining of the solo parts counterbalances the heavy and granite riffs that make up the main plot. With the title track “Under Acid Hoof” we came to the end of the album, where the band takes the more Doom component of its sound to the extreme. The bass is deep and completes the rhythm session with an ever-changing drum, while the guitars are particularly Psychedelic-lysergic here. For technique and development it is a piece of exquisite workmanship, with guitar phrases and an imposing structure, certainly resulting in one of the best moments of the disc, which we can say ends with a flourish. A good test for the Hellenic band that showcases a sound with very distinct characters, taking its cue from what is good from the past, propelling it into the future with its own personal touch. A listening recommended to all lovers of Doom sounds with granite and heavy guitar riffs and a powerful rhythmic session, with Mammothian movements, atmospheres at times dark and funereal with acidic veins, the name of the band best describes their sound in two words. This album bodes well for future releases, as there is always room for improvement, the starting point is good and convincing.
Tracklist
1. Them! (04:38)
2. Tree of Woe (09:10)
3. Tusks of Doom (05:50)
4. Jack the Riffer (07:30)
5. Under Acid Hoof (08:10)
Lineup
Chris Babalis Jr. / Vocals, Guitars
Chris Babalis Sr. / Guitars
DimosthenisĀ Varikos / Bass
Marios Louvaris / Drums
