1st September 2024

Review: “II” by Urzah

After something of a tentative first step with their raw self titled EP two years previously, the return of Bristol based Post Progressive Sludge Metal quartet Urzah with a second chapter brought the refinement that the first record screamed out for. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Stuart McKay at Studio 6 (Guilt Trip, Malevolence, Brutality Will Prevail) in Swindon, it found the band with a swagger, verve and confidence to their game which was lacking the first time around, no doubt aided by the knowledge of working in the studio and the experience of live shows under their collective belts.

Opening heavy hitter “Where Is Your Sun?/Bloodrite” punches like a prize fighter as the band expand their horizons and commit to tape a cut which surpasses the seven and a half minute mark with ease. Dark and brooding with tastefully solid guitar tone, it satisfies in ways which others fail to, the powerful percussion driving the band forward in perpetual motion. As they did with their debut record, the four piece embrace longer instrumental passages but this time around they have more edge to them and feel more focused. Transitioning from mid tempo chugs into a faster mid section and then back again here is done with style and grace, the slow down for the finale particularly well executed. McKay deserves a lot of credit for the mix, the vocals sitting perfectly above the impactful drumming and crushing guitars with Fairman screaming in desolation with a no hope equals no fear style. Post-Hardcore influences are exposed in some of the riffs of “Greedbather” but the sharpness of the Metallic edges remains. Fairman questions his place in the World. Are the masses simply here to fuel the machine as the rich few get richer on their back breaking hard work? Throw in a breakdown at the end and you have a classy piece of work that continues the step up in musicianship from the first record. An interlude piece of bleak beauty “The Lure” is a 94 second piece with an arty almost cinematic quality to it, feeling like the calm before the storm as it introduces “Shards“. Once more with feeling Urazh offer something that strikes a delicate balance between heavy and melodic as it plays out, the riffs fit for worship in a crunchy midrange tone and the leads adding a little blues flare. A classy pick slide (who doesn’t love a pick slide?!) gives the final third something else to write home about before a fitting extended riff-o-rama finale. As musicians the band have grown and it shows, the class of this aching as it burns to be… [8/10]

Track Listing