Italian sound alchemists and power trio UFOMAMMUT have their tenth, aptly named album "Fenice" (Phoenix) to their credit. In recent years, there has been a growing feeling that Ufommamut is no longer flying, but spinning in circles. However, the wings of the new album, released again on the respected Neurot Recordings, have got new feathers and the incredibly dense sound of psychedelic sludgers is back.

When drummer and founding member Vita left the trio in 2019 after 20 years and 9 albums, the cosmic mammoth's heart stoped beat for a while. But less than two years later, northwest Italy must have been hit by a meteor with a new 'colour from outer space' once again, as the hallucinogenic, oppressive and ever-graduating psych-sludge-doom broke gravity again on 'Fenice'.

No need to expect a genre bounce though, you'll recognise the repetitive hypnotic band from the very first moment. In particular, new drummer Lovre's inclusion of samples and experimentation with vocal effects infuses fresh toxicity and energy. So much so that, for a heavy-weight trio, there's even some pretty brisk rock on the new album, which after more than twenty years feels like another welcome revival, and one that will also hit the spot at gigs. With "Fenice", Ufomammut have moved deeper into the unexplored territory of their own identity again, while also rejuvenating themselves. Their roaring, gargantuan sound of massive riffs paired with psychotropic intoxication once again causes the absolute immersion that any proper psychedelic trip should have.