Mammoth Mammoth
Volume IV – Hammered Again
Napalm Records
Out Now
Review by Derek J. Huckel
Mammoth Mammoth are a cross between, like Motorhead crossed with the Celibate Rifles and Rose Tattoo, with a touch of Motley Crue thrown in. And they incorporate psychedelic with a bucket full of groove. I think its hard to put them really in one genre but some label them hard rock/stoner rock which is fair. My only other in road to this band is a great tune of theirs I came across a year ago maybe, called Hell’s Likely (video shot in the loo’s of Melbourne’s Cherry Bar) and this album stood up to my expectations from my love of that song.
Formed in 2007 these Melbourne guys tunes are all are party anthems, even the slower tunes you could imagine a roomful, or more, of people singing along together to. Or at least in heavy sync nodding away. Such is the power of these guys. From Life’s a Bitch (and then you die), Lookin’ Down The Barrel, the rebel without a cause Fuel Injected, and the epic High as a Kite. If like me and this third album Volume IV – Hammered Again (‘Volume I’ was an EP) is the only one you have heard, you’ll be wanting to check out all of the previous hairy Mammoth Mammoth recordings.
They are a good definition of rock out; Life’s a Bitch, Lookin’ Down The Barrel, Black Dog, Reign Supreme, but have a great psychedelic side; Electric Sunshine, Promised Land, they can reel out great chugga chug guitars; Fuel Injected and Promised Land, and swagger; Sick (of Being Sick), Hammered Again, and their lyrics invoke great atmosphere too; Fuel Injected, Reign Supreme, though often nihilistic with a grin. They seem to pull it off epic like old pros as well. Their name is what they pump out, simply Mammoth!
The lyrics on Fuel Injected are the tale of an outlaws daily life of living on the edge living on crime, whiskey, and chemicals. Told by Mikey Tucker in his raspy voice you are made to believe every word. The song Black Dog here is not a cover of Led Zeppelin cover but a tale of battle with depression, you can feel the war he may have had waging, or relating to us someone else’s but it feels like a positive song about this nasty affliction.
The production on Hammered Again is tip top with a crisp sound that you can hear all their musical weapons, each note for note, drums and vocals – all tip top. Live they are supposed to be over the top and really give bang for your buck and it sounds it here with a very vivid live sound. A great quote describing their sound I found, and is apt too, was “Motorhead doing mushrooms with Black Sabbath at a Butthole Surfers concert.’ Along with Tucker on vocals are his brothers in crime guitarist Ben Couzens, bassist Pete Bell, and drummer Frank Trobbiani.
You could see these guys lined up on a bill with anyone, Kadaver, to Turbonegro, and the Cosmic Psychos, as well as those mentioned above like Motorhead. Lovers of these bands, or rock, stoner, punk, and lovers of other genres the like – I’m sure you’ll love this album of Mammoth Mammoth!
