With their latest release “Setting Fire to the Sky”, London based trio Urne has solidified their transition from underground favorites to a legitimate force in the progressive sludge scene. With a sound that feels both calculated and chaotic, the record sees Urne doubling down on the heavy foundations of their previous work, further cementing the uncompromising direction they’ve been pursuing for years. This progression feels less like a leap forward and more like the band settling deeper into their established lane. By prioritizing a consistent atmospheric density, they have crafted a record that feels deliberate, though it often prioritizes a singular mood over individual song identity. The first thing I noticed while listening to this album, was the heavy Gojira influence within the arrangements and their overall sound. This overlap made total sense to me once I discovered that the album was mixed by Johann Meyer at Silver Cord Studios, the facility owned by Joe Duplantier (vocalist/guitarist of Gojira), who has also worked with them on their previous material. To my ears, this collaboration has cemented a specific “DNA” in Urne’s music, driven by those signature syncopated, pummeling guitar chugs and overall tone, trademarks of the French metal titans. The album thrives on its cohesion. Flowing as a singular, cinematic experience, from dreamy acoustic intros that explode into punchy fry vocals to the mysterious and tense atmospheres they build, the record maintains a relentless momentum. The band demonstrates a mastery of these elements, blending harsh and clean vocals with impressive fluidity across the track list. While the band’s rhythmic tightness is a standout, the “hazy” aesthetic of the mix occasionally allowed the drums to overpower the cleaner passages for me. There are moments where the production carries a certain “home studio recording” grit, leaving the vocals to battle against a massive wall of sound. While I felt this occasionally left some sections buried, these rough edges also contribute to the album’s authentic charm. However, that same raw energy creates a double-edged sword when it comes to the record’s structural identity. While this grit provides character, it also smooths over the transitions between songs, leading to a listening experience that is perhaps more unified than the band intended. In my view, the greatest asset of “Setting Fire to the Sky” is that it functions as a singular, continuous experience rather than just a collection of singles. While I often find such strong cohesion rare and commendable, I think Urne might actually suffer from too much cohesion here! The tracks occasionally bled into one another to the point of repetition. Despite the rhythmic and melodic shifts, I sometimes felt like I was listening to the same track. They’ve proven they can play the game at this level but for now, they seem content to inhabit a space that the genre’s legends have already well defined. Ultimately, it’s a record that satisfies the appetite for more sludge without offering a particularly new flavor. A job well done, but nothing more and nothing less.
♦ 6,5/10
Panos Niko
