Unversum (Review) – DÖ

I was struck by the word “unversum” at first glance when checking out the new album from Finnish stoner rockers DÖ.

The Latin word “Universum” means “to be turned into unity” or “into a single whole.” It comes from the words unus, meaning “one,” and verto, meaning “to turn.” The word universum was used by Cicero and other Latin writers in many of the same ways as the modern English word universe.

Another note: the word “universe” comes from the Old French word univers, which derives from the Latin word universum.

I got into this etymology in the first place because I think it says a lot about DÖ’s fourth LP. Called Unversum, the title is a play on words of what I just spoke of, and on Bandcamp the band says, “There’s no I in Unversum.”

I’m unsure what they mean by that, but by picking a title that connects with the word “universe,” the meaning is clear to me. DÖ describe themselves as a riff-praising, cosmos-worshipping power trio from Finland that feeds on dark astral energy and compresses into what they call “döömer” – a Northern European mix of stoner, sludge, doom, and hints of psychedelia.

For a band that worships the cosmos, Unversum is an appropriate album title.

On Unversum, this blend creates a potent mix of heavy rock that also brings more than a few touches of death/black metal, especially in the harsh, screaming vocals that are found throughout the record.

DÖ has slowly gained an international audience since releasing its debut self-titled record in 2014. They’ve appeared on the Doom Charts, and they’ve shared the stage with the legendary Church of Misery.

Unversum is their first LP since 2020’s Black Hole Mass, and they come to us with a more mature and technically proficient batch of eight tracks that still carry the bone-crushing heaviness of their previous work.

Highlights of the new record for me include “Nuclear Emperor,” “Wasted Life Form,” and “Sulfur Incense.” A monolithic slab of droning riffs, drenched in fuzz and reverb smack us in the face with “Wasted Life Form.” The heaviness of doom is here, but the band plays it faster and more aggressive. Imagine the thick, smoke-laden atmospheres of Sleep, but with a more malevolent undercurrent.

The muscular riffage of “Sulfur Incense” grinds like tectonic plates shifting, with drums that feel like ritualistic pounding from the underworld. As the band notes in its bio, they’re known for their loud energetic gigs and manaical drumming of Kristös, and this track proves Kristös’ drumming prowess.

“Nuclear Emperor” has an undeniable groove. Huge, lumbering riffs dominate the track, but there’s a venomous bite underneath the smoke. The stoner rock vibe comes alive, but it’s infused with a sludgy, oppressive weight.

With Unversum, DÖ has evolved its sound while staying true to its cosmic, riff-heavy roots. The album’s title reflects the band’s exploration of unity and vastness, not just in the thematic sense but also in the way it blends diverse metal subgenres into a cohesive, heavy whole.

With tracks like “Wasted Life Form” and “Nuclear Emperor,” they maintain the crushing weight of doom while pushing their sound in darker, more aggressive directions. This LP shows a band that has grown technically and continues to carve out a space in the stoner and sludge metal realms.

Universum is available for purchase here.

This review was written by Nick, who lives, writes, and worships music in Tennessee. Nick runs The Third Eye psychedelic rock blog, and he has also contributed to Petal Motel, Monster Riff, and Clean & Sober Stoner.

Release date: September 18, 2024
Label: Lay Bare Recordinges
Genre(s): Doom, black metal, stoner metal

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