Is extreme stoner doom a genre? If DÖ’s “Unversum” is what it will sound like, then yes it should definitely become a thing. Of course, it is already out there but it has never been played like this before. Not only is “Unversum” built upon a foundation of mountainous groove, it also covers so much ground that the band can’t really be pigeonholed.
Elements of black metal and sludge can be found among their brand of doom but the atmosphere is pure alien, spacey and psychedelic. Imagine being sucked into a black hole but instead of your guts pulled out from your belly button like spaghetti wrapped around a fork then scattered into nothingness, you have your guts pulled out from your belly button like spaghetti wrapped around a fork then scattered into nothingness…to be rebuilt into some sort of new consciousness inside a dimension that is turned upside down in every way possible.
It’s a maddening trip through the other side, one which still has a focus and destination…however frightening it may be. What’s so impressive about the album is that it sounds dense as a planet but vast as pace. It’s a rare combination of hard hitting, head banging songs that work alongside liminal spaces to explore infinite possibilities.
Despite its explorations, the album clocks it at a solid 45 minutes across 8 songs. This is the perfect length because it keeps everything nice and tight yet demands multiple listens. I can definitely see this being an album that could get someone into a variety of genres or maybe even be enjoyed by people who don’t like certain ones. Don’t care for trippy music? Fine, this has riffs for days and is a bulldozer in that respect. Don’t care for a barrage of guitar riffs? That’s ok, there is more than enough atmosphere and trippy moments for you to forgive the attack of the strings. It’s an album that does a lot yet its individual pieces can be enjoyed as needed. Or dive right in and experience a total banger.
Check out the opening to the first song, “Call of the Supervoid.” It’s spacey, as if being pulled into the stars themselves. But the pounding of the drums is a pulsing reminder of the danger that lurks around the corner. As the riffs punch holes into the fabric, subtle keys paste over it. It's mysterious and familiar all at once. The lead guitar is full capable in world building as well, evident in the later half of the song that features a tripped out solo that grows a Life of its own.
It wouldn't be doom without a low end. “Sulfur Incense” is brought to fruition with deep tones, vibrating fuzz and all. The menacing vocals cut through the haze, teetering on the edge of sanity. The slow, steady beat Of the song beats like the pulse of the universe but the final half is an expansive flow of energy that filters out to everything.
“Ode To The Dark Matter,” is perhaps my favorite song on the album. I love the vibe in the beginning, the clean tones transitioning into heavier ones creates a moody that is both murky and stifling. The vocals and rhythm match each other’s cadence, doubling down on the raw power that pours from the cracks. After the three minute mark, the landscape changes. The feeling is one of discovery, a newfound sense of exploration yet there is also some confusion as to what exactly is happening in this new, foreign landscape. .
The album ends with “Wasted Life Form,” and it had me thinking about the album’s title. “Universum” is a Latin word that means “to be turned into unity” or “to be turned into a single whole.” Of course the band spells it differently with a line on their bandcamp page proclaiming, “There is no I in unversum.” If that’s true, are we truly wasted life forms? Are we nothing more but a piece of a whole, our individuality meaning nothing in the end? Am I reading too much into this? Is my attempt to sound smart coming off as lame? I can’t answer these questions. I mean, I can but I’m not going to.
What I will answer is “Does Wasted Life Form rock and end the album on a proper note?” Yes, it does. My favorite begins around the halfway mark; the song slows down with ultra-leaden riffs and hallucinogenic keys melding into one wall of sound. The drums and bass keep the song grounded firmly even as the song stretches its own concept.
DÖ’s “Unversum” is a prime example of how a band can make a heavy album that is never slows down while also providing a lot of depth and introspective moments.
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