Italy’s own Black and Funeral Doom Metal architects return after a long hiatus with their fifth full-length opus, approaching the notion of duality from an esoteric perspective and exploring its many manifestations.
Active in the Extreme Metal underground for more than two decades, Cagliari, Italy’s own esoteric Black and Funeral Doom Metal architects Urna return after a long hiatus with their fifth full-length opus, titled The Great Jihad, the follow-up to their 2013 effort Mors Principium Est. Recorded through multiple sessions between 2014 and 2025 across Italy and the United Kingdom, before being mixed and mastered by the band’s own guitarist MZ at 322 Studio in early 2026, and displaying a colossal artwork by Francesco Gemelli, the new opus by RM on vocals, MZ on the guitars and synthesizers, T (Sangue Nero) on bass, and Sibilans (Anamnesi, Simulacro) on drums is more poisonous and tense than its predecessors, retains the crushing atmosphere and funeral doom connection that have long defined Urna, while pushing their faster passages towards a harsher, more abrasive form of Black Metal. The conceptual framework once again expands RM’s personal spiritual journey through Hermetism, approaching the notion of duality from an esoteric perspective and exploring its many manifestations.
The first half of the album, named Creator, kicks off with First of Three, sounding cadaverous and grim from the very first second, with the harsh vociferations by RM sending shivers down our spines while Sibilans brings absolute heaviness with his blast beats, flowing into Second of Three, just as caustic and visceral as the first song, with MZ slashing his axe in the name of evil, sounding imposing and heavy as hell just the way we like it in Black Metal. And Third of Three starts in a serene, ethereal way before exploding into absolute chaos and heaviness, blending Black and Doom Metal in great fashion to the pounding drums by Sibilans, therefore concluding the album’s first act majestically.
Then we face the second act titled Created, starting with the title-track The Great Jihad, a more epic take on the band’s trademark Funeral Doom Metal essence led by the demonic roars by RM while his bandmates keep delivering absolute darkness and heaviness from their sonic weapons. Dream Death, Towards Rebirth is also dense, visceral and infernal, with the kitchen crafted by T and Sibilans exhaling Doom Metal insanity; and Four Levels of Infinite Splendour ends the album with an epic vibe while also bringing anguish and despair to our rotten souls, with the riffs by MZ once again cutting our flesh deep before the song’s climatic ending.
After all is said and done, you’ll realize that The Great Jihad is a work that feels both familiar and renewed, balancing oppressive density with moments of stark, otherworldly beauty, bringing a journey that began in 2005, when the album was originally crafted, to its intended conclusion. The guys form Urna might not be found on any social media (which in the end is never a bad thing, to be honest), but you can add their striking new album to your collection by purchasing it from the ATMF’s BandCamp or from Metal Odissey, showing your support and admiration for the band and their music. The Great Jihad is dark, intense, bold, multi-layered and, above all that, loyal to the foundations of a band that will never abandon their core Black and Funeral Doom Metal essence no matter what. Because although much has changed since the already distant year of 2003, Urna have not.
Best moments of the album: Second of Three and The Great Jihad.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 ATMF
Track listing
Creator
1. First of Three 5:55
2. Second of Three 4:43
3. Third of Three 7:02
Created
4. The Great Jihad 4:11
5. Dream Death, Towards Rebirth 6:42
6. Four Levels of Infinite Splendour 8:09
Band members
RM – vocals
MZ – guitars, synthesizers
T – bass
Sibilans – drums
