As scientists in Australia filled in missing genetic gaps of an ancient, re-discovered mammoth DNA genome to ultimately create a meatball of actual, edible mammoth flesh in 2023, Murfreesboro-area epoch/dark-matter/heavy metal trio Aye Mammoth was epically floating through the abysmal aftermath of a black hole encounter’s spaceless, deathless nothingness between the band’s 10th, stellar-as-they-get 2022 release, Eternal, and this year’s Aye Mammoth installation, Return.
Return involves the brutal space and time impacted by early Black Sabbath to reforge Aye Mammoth’s philosophically and astro-physically deconstructed hero in the EP’s opener, “Return to Stardust.”
Mammoth brutally hammers slow-punctuated metal rhythms, with occasional, defibrillating tommy-gun onslaughts from Patrick Johnson’s brick-room-loud bass, along with the blunt sludge-punches of Micah Loyed’s guitar riff wisdom (possibly mistaken for spacey, ambient synth sounds at times). Meanwhile, Phil Stem acts as the cosmic anvil on the drums: Bonding in atoms / Compounds in rapture.
Slightly thrashier—but thrash with an Iron Maiden-influenced governor—“Redeemer” instills the necessary enlightenment needed when melding, forging and creating the chosen son of local metal: Open heart to the way / Open mind to the truth / Open soul to the light / . . . Foreseen rising supreme.
The blunt force of early Sabbath reappears, tinged with the death-metal aesthetic of Slayer, causing pressure to build as Aye Mammoth dude-chants in metal harmony on “Resurrectioner”: Life brings new breath / Haunting apparition / Divine ascension.
And as such distant force amalgamates the science, religion and supernatural determinations incubated at such depths of darkness between releases, Aye Mammoth, a local trio of creator-men, unleashes Return with forces yet to be reckoned to mortal coil, through what could only be described as “arena metal,” to fulfill our protagonist’s unspoken prophesy.
Hear Return—technically, Aye Mammoth’s 11th studio production—along with the rest of the Aye Mammoth catalog (including a sludgy cover of the old blues song “Death Letter” by Son House, as well as a 10-year anniversary compilation, for the homies) at ayemammoth.bandcamp.com. Metal fans can also find more on the band on the Encyclopeadia Metallum.
Aye Mammoth will playing some live shows at The Boro Bar and Grill this month, on Saturday, May 4, for the Tennessee Blues Mob album release, as well as Saturday, May 11, along with Boomstick and Skeetzo N’ Krysis.
Find more information on the mammoth meatball on cnn.com.
