"Seemingly influenced--in equal parts--by both Kyuss and Yes, Mammoth Volume attach vintage keyboard flourishes to their doped-out opuses, throw in one heaping slice of a bossa nova jazz piece, and generally sound cooler than any band you'll stumble upon knowingly this year."- Metal Edge
Mammoth Volume. Really, the band's name says it all. Their sound is BIG and WOOLLY and bound to the icy north. But that doesn't quite explain where the other elements found in the music come from.....
The band was founded by the main song writing team of Nicklas and Daniel in the winter of 1996. Nicklas engaged his older brother J�rgen to take over vocal duties and with the final addition of bass player Kalle, the band was born. Originally thought to be a studio project, the assembled four so enjoyed the music they were crafting that they wanted to venture forth and perform live. A US tour is still on the horizon, but the band has been getting their chops down 'round and about in central Europe. The band is from the town of Lysekil, Sweden where they were all raised and still live today.
The band's '70s-styled retro-rock, mixed with experimental sound scapes has developed over the years. Universal influences cited by the band range from obvious to reflective and include Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Rainbow as well as bands like Budgie, Mike Oldfield, Yes, King Crimson, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Gentle Giant.
Daniel expresses the bands sound and musical endeavors eloquently. "There was always an idea that we didn�t want to sound too modern or slick (which isn�t really a problem when you're recording the music yourselves). So there was a "retro" hardrock sound from the beginning, and I think basically we're staying true to that still...... One thing we try to do is to mix heavy rock riffs and grooves with some experimentation as far as time signatures and key changes goes. [This comes from] my "progressive-rock-fan" background maybe.
Just to keep it interesting, both for us (having to play it hundreds of times) and for the people who buy the records or come to see us live. And live performances means improvisation.... the recording, we try to keep the natural sound of the instruments and work with that. We happen to like the sound a snare drum naturally makes, why make it sound like something else. Same thing goes for the guitars & bass. If that's what it means to have a retro production, then we're proud to have it."
Nicklas concurs "What I like about the records is the "rehearsal room dynamics" and the "sonic simplicity" ; it doesn't sound too hi-tech. The variations are pretty big, between the styles of music as well as the sound of the songs."
Outside of music the band is influenced by literature, horror-Sci-Fi movies as well as Swedish films. Taoism, theology, motor sports, astronomy, dogs and spirits also come up as outside interests. Though they've all been in other bands prior to forming Mammoth Volume, it is obvious that this is where their musical passions have merged and are bearing fruits that compel them individually and as a band.
Their first release, self titled, saw them make a mark on the musical community, predominantly in the stoner rock genre. The new EP, Noara Dance, will see them expand their fan base beyond the genre.
Mammoth Volume rock hard, but also offer layer upon layer of musical nuances to be peeled back with each new listen. There are roaring motor cycle engines and waves upon the beach, raging Vikings and endless starry skies in their works. Behold a musical giant in the making, behold Mammoth Volume.
Biography written by: Fly PR - 323-667-1344 or [email protected]
