URN are unleashing their brand new album tomorrow via Season Of Mist, time to get into some grisly Blackened Thrash mayhem. Will their fifth album hit the bar set by their previously epic discography?
Acoustic guitars glistening with ambience sets the tranquil opening of the album before ripping into thrashing assault of guitars and hammering drums, filled with all the energy one hopes to receive from this style of music. Meaty guitars throw us through realms of hellish and demonic Heavy Metal while the superb vocals layer destructive hate over the instrumental savagery. The music is not only monolithically intense and devastating but also memorable and catchy with a fun feeling to it that feels a bit like early Toxic Holocaust. Blistering guitar solos are utilised gorgeously to add to the skilful array of devilishly gruesome Black-Thrash onslaughts. Aside from the crushing display of fierce musicianship, there is a stunning sense of melody and atmospherics to the record which reminds me more of Witching Hour but with the vicious aggression and crushing force of Destroyer 666 blended in, certainly not a bad thing with huge realms of classic Heavy Metal creeping its way into the speeding assault. Battle-ready, this album offers track-to-track excitement that hits incredibly hard ready for all the headbangers to enjoy the slaughtering grooves and monstrously fast riffing, blast beat extravaganza or try to match the unholy pace of the maniacal vocals. Tastefully spaced, this record decimates from start to end, which is impressive due to the forty minute mark being hit, often a risky move for this type of extremity, but Urn pull it off and knock the ball out of the park with this inferno of violating Blackened Thrash Metal excellence. Five albums into their career and Urn have not faltered slightly with this new release being a captivating array of tremendous songwriting that will demand you attention in a fun and accessible manner while not losing any of the underground spirit or lacking in richly brutal sounds. In answer to my opening question, this has not only hit the bar, they surpassed it with an insanely enjoyable record that will be the soundtrack for many thrashers and cultish underground dwellers alike in their path to destruction. A ferocious album while not fearing of melody, this hits all the right spots. Blackened Thrash Metallers should be swarming to listen to this sizzling, speeding record. Glorious! -8/10
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