25th June 2024

Review: “Self Titled” by Urzah (4th Anniversary)

When their debut album “The Scorching Gaze” wasn’t even a twinkling in their minds eye, Bristol based Post Progressive Sludge Metal quartet Urzah were in a rehearsal space writing a self titled EP that they hoped would capture the imagination of a few idle passers by. Having got together at some point in 2019, drummer James Brown, guitarist Tom McElveen, bassist James Blake and vocalist and guitarist Ed Fairman (ex-Plague of Ashitaka) recorded their tunes with Joe Garcia (The Utopia Strong, Row Of Ashes, Warrior Pope). He later later mixed those tracks before handing them to James Plotkin (Windhand, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, Penny Coffin) at Plotkinworks to master…

…as you might expect from a debut recording from any band, this one is raw and less refined than their later works, at times actually sounding like it was recorded live on the floor of Joe’s Garage in Bristol but what it does have is charm in abundance. Blues driven Sludge with Stoner Metal vibes and screamed unclean vocals, opening cut “Phantoms in the Fire” feels like Fu Manchu got in a room with Converge vocalist Jacob Bannon and while it lacks a little polish and feels a little tentative, you can see exactly where they are going. By contrast “Ashes of War” has the live performance edge, the rhythms tighter and the leads impressive during a first half that brings the heat. A melodic mid section makes way for a punchy second half, the barked vocals giving it real power in start contrast to the melodic leads and while there is no doubt there would have been some call amongst friends and family for clean vocals, the band know exactly what they’re doing. Ethnic vibes crawl out of the woodwork like termites with “Allure Adrift” with Jaz McElveen providing effeminate clean vocals. Delicate and rich the first half feels eclectic before the gut punch of the mid section where Ed Fairman takes the microphone and while the band don’t go all out heavy, the change of direction makes the track stand out like a tattoo on the face. An impressive first outing from a band who would later go on to bigger things, this is well worth checking out because the shape of punk to come is clearly defined in these roots… [7/10]

Track Listing