Review: “Anthropic Genetic Involution” by Ural

The Thrash revival continues with Turin based Italian quintet Ural who rose like a Phoenix from the ashes of Lifeless in 2010 and have since delivered us to evil with an unholy trinity of albums and a pair of extended plays. Maintaining the chainsaw’s perpetual forward motion, their fourth album “Anthropic Genetic Involution“ is their first with new guitarist Luca Maggi (Axeblade, Evil Revenant, Nefasta), who fills the space vacated by Luca Caci after six years at the grindstone. Once again collaborating with producer Davide Billia (Avulsed, Beheaded, Holy Terror), the man with whom they’d worked with so successfully on 2022 EP “Cyber Requiem” and 2023 album “Psychoverse“ as well as acclaimed artist Luca SoloMacello (Elvenking, Pentagram, Wormwood) who returns to provide a visual representation, means there will be wolves.

Old School 80’s San Francisco Bay style adrenalised Thrash riffs fly through the air like a sharpened axe alongside the gang chants of “Extreme Paranoia” as Ural make an instant impression with the opening cut of their new album. A classic solo, in keeping with its surroundings and not overly flamboyant captures the imagination, as do the shriller vocals of  Andrea Calviello as he delivers a tale as old as time. Comparisons with fellow Italian Thrash overlords Game Over are there for all to hear and as “Break the Fall” rears its ugly head, you know this record is going to be as fun as a good old fashioned beating. Calviello has a little accenting in his voice which adds a charm to the record, the band not afraid to get creative and expansive with their riffs, this one having some bombastic bass lines from Stefano Cipriano Moliner. The staccato riff break stomp of “God of Lies” makes it a headbangers call to the pit, the band evolving the guitar work in Voivod like fashion, leaning towards the Progressive Thrash world before pulling it back in style. There is a real confidence flowing through the veins of these songs, the five piece clearly having done the work in the rehearsal space to get them as tight as possible before committing them to tape.

The first really flamboyant solo is on “Wrong Children” which counterbalances some frantic and frenetic riffs that circle the drain of the more melodic moments of The Black Dahlia Murder. Fluid, technical and seamless while being performed at the tempo of the damned, this one takes a couple of spins to sink in simply because there is so much going on. Once it does however, you just can’t help but admire the musicianship as well as the clever nature of the beast. The catchy “Open Scars” might have you cussing Ural because you’re going to subliminally join in with the gang chants no matter where you are. Against all the odds they manage to keep everything lean, mean and fresh sounding, getting the messages in the lyrical narratives across without overdoing things instrumentally despite their obvious talent. A fine example of that is the solo in the fade of this one, which leaves you wanting more, the decision to do what has been done in the studio a masterful one for that very reason. “Rat in a Cage” blends Traditional Heavy Metal melodies with old school Thrash sensibilities so you get the best of both worlds with just a hint of Judas Priest inspiration as the band tear down the blue skies, their dedication to craft leaving us with a monster of a tune that is arguably the records finest moment. The cherry on top of the metaphorical cake.

Progressive Death Metal has usually been the genre to incorporate brass of some kind for the odd left field moment so for Ural to reinterpret “Flat Black“, a classic tune from Jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson seems a little crazy of paper. However the quintet give it a funky fresh Thrash make over with some spellbinding riffs and galloping percussive bursts so what you’re left with is something eclectic, eccentric and undeniably good fun. The furious “Terror Eyes” restores the natural order of things with blistering main riff as Calviello introduces a couple of vocal change ups that work incredibly well. The whammy bar drop solo that bursts like a bubblegum in the mid section is a glorious moment, allowing the band to increase the intensity of the onslaught with a little more of a menacing kick. The final cut “…to Change Your Vision” is the conjoined twin of its predecessor, the face melting solo at the end of the first bleeding into the second. A sinister sample and Death Metal stylings painted with verve and swagger ensure the album ends on a majestic high, the more abrasive guitar work helping make it a thing of dark beauty [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Extreme Paranoia
2. Break the Fall
3. God of Lies
4. Wrong Children
5. Open Scars
6. Rat in a Cage
7. Flat Black (J.J. Johnson)
8. Terror Eyes
9. …to Change Your Vision

“Anthropic Genetic Involution” by Ural is out 23rd April 2026 via Xtreem Music and is available over at bandcamp