Ungoliant - No More the World of Man [Free Download]

Ungoliant (not to be confused with the Swedish Black Metal band of the same name) was a doom metal band formed by famed underground, Oakland-based artist Skinner. The artist’s murals can be found around the world from Russia to Cuba and all across the United States. His work has also been celebrated in various publications including Juxtapoz, Hi Fructose and Beautiful/Decay. Skinner has recently provided the artwork for Mastodon’s upcoming album “Once More 'Round the Sun” which will be released June 24, 2014, via Reprise Records. Along with all this he is also a lover & creator of collectible vinyl toys and runs his own apparel label ‘Critical Hit’ which features his psychedelic art emblazoned across everything from shirts, silk-screen stickers and posters.

This is all fine and dandy but even if none of it were true, this would still be a damn fine doom album with or without the clout that Skinner’s nightmarish creations bring. Their album “No More the World of Man” is a wonderfully heavy trip just shy of 45 minutes that touches all aspects of the doom subgenre, with vocals that sound like the voice of an ancient warrior wailing victoriously over a bloody battlefield! The first track "Wretched Mind" drudges along at a pace that border on Funeral Doom territory. The second track “Mountains of Madness” picks up the speed with riffs reminiscent of the old school death/doom of bands like Finland’s Hooded Menace. The psychedelic tinge starts to creep in more and more in the next few track Politics of Misery and Unlight of Ungoliant, bringing a triumphant end to this wonderful blend of psych-sabbathian stoner sludge.

It’s a shame that the band only lasted a year, and an even bigger shame that it took me this long to discover it, but No More the World of Man is a massive memorial to the band’s short-lived term. Download the album at the link below and pray to Melkor that the band makes music again in some form or another. -GodzIL

Download Here: http://ungoliant.bandcamp.com/

Shop for all things Skinner here: http://www.theartofskinner.com/