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Album Review – Urne / Setting Fire to the Sky (2026)

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Whipping up a firestorm of grit, swagger and grandiosity, the new opus by this UK entity snarls hardcore, extreme inflections, and a strong sense of Heavy Metal’s inherent classicism.

Whipping up a firestorm of grit, swagger and grandiosity, Setting Fire to the Sky, the brand new album by UK’s own Stoner/Sludge Metal/Metalcore cult act Urne, snarls hardcore, extreme inflections, and a strong sense of Heavy Metal’s inherent classicism, all burn together within their own burial chamber, propelling the band forward. Recorded and produced by SikTh co-vocalist Justin Hill, mixed by Johann Meyer at Silvercord Studios, and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studio, the follow-up to their 2023 album A Feast on Sorrow sees vocalist and bassist Joe Nally, guitarist Angus Neyra, and drummer James Cook expand their sound to even further lands, sounding and feeling heavier, tighter and more captivating than ever.

The acoustic guitars by Angus ignite the band’s festivities in Be Not Dismayed, suddenly exploding into a Progressive Sludge Metal aria where Joe’s vocals sound dark and visceral just the way we like it in extreme music; and James hammers his drums mercilessly in Weeping to the World, with their Mastodon-inspired riffs and bass punching us hard in the head while the music alternates between more introspective moments and sheer heaviness. Joe’s rumbling bass walks hand in hand with the pounding beats by James in the headbanging The Spirit, Alive, a serious candidate for becoming a permanent part of their live concerts, whereas the title-track Setting Fire to the Sky brings to our ears a sinister, grim intro that gradually morphs into a Doom and Sludge Metal creature, with James taking the lead armed with his undisputed, intricate and pulverizing beats and fills, followed by The Ancient Horizon, a more cadenced (yet still heavy-as-hell) creation by the trio, offering an overdose of caustic riffs by Angus.

We’re then treated to the also obscure Towards the Harmony Hall, carrying a poetic name for a hard hitting Progressive Metal beast where Angus’ carnivorous riffs clash in great fashion with the brutality blasted by James on drums. Then featuring the indomitable Troy Sanders of Mastodon as a guest vocalist, Urne will melt our faces with nine minutes of absolute metal magic in Harken the Waves, presenting several distinct layers that together form the most detailed of all songs, where melody and violence unite in the name of heavy music. Cellist Jo Quail adds pure melancholy to the band’s already deep and dark sonority in Breathe, providing Joe with exactly what he needs to shine with his introspective vocals, and as a CD and digital only bonus track we have Nocturnal Forms, certainly worth the investment in those formats as it’s another excellent song of no shenanigans Progressive Death and Sludge Metal.

“I feel like I’m in Metallica in 1988 with what we do,” commented Joe about the current state of Urne, and of course about the music found in Setting Fire to the Sky. You can also set fire to your music collection by purchasing such an amazing album from their own Big Cartel, from Rough Trade, or simply by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also follow Urne on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with their news and tour dates, and to stream their massive creations on any platform like Spotify. As aforementioned, Urne are moving forward with their newborn opus, leaving us eager for more in the near future by one of the most captivating band’s of the current British scene.

Best moments of the album: The Spirit, Alive, Setting Fire to the Sky and Harken the Waves.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Spinefarm Records

Track listing
1. Be Not Dismayed  5:54
2. Weeping to the World 3:42
3. The Spirit, Alive 3:52
4. Setting Fire to the Sky 6:38
5. The Ancient Horizon 4:41
6. Towards the Harmony Hall 7:14
7. Harken the Waves 9:23
8. Breathe 4:19

CD and Digital bonus track
9. Nocturnal Forms 3:54

Band members
Joe Nally – vocals, bass
Angus Neyra – guitars
James Cook – drums

Guest musicians
Troy Sanders – vocals on “Harken the Waves”
Jo Quail – cello on “Breathe”

Album Review – ONI / The Silver Line (2023)

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The unstoppable Jake Oni and his henchmen return with their most dynamic yet cohesive and focused work, representing a means to exorcise personal demons for anyone who listens and connects to the sound, the spirit and the stand taken by each song.

The creative evolution of the multifaceted Windsor, Canada-based Progressive Metalcore/Djent force known as ONI never ends. Always evolving, braving treacherous waters and searching for a distinctive light in the darkness, the band spearheaded by frontman Jake Oni, alongside Brandon White and Martin Andres on the guitars, Johnny DeAngelis on the xylosynth, Chase Bryant on bass and Joe Greulich on drums, is about to release their new full-length beast titled The Silver Line, the follow-up to their 2022 critically acclaimed album Loathing Light. Produced, mixed and mastered by the duo of Spiritbox bassist Josh Gilbert and Joe McQueen (As I Lay Dying, Light The Torch, Bad Wolves), and featuring an array of special guests including Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) and Howard Jones (Light the Torch, Devil You Know, Killswitch Engage), The Silver Line is at once the most dynamic yet cohesive and focused work in the band’s burgeoning career, being therefore a must-listen for fans of Allegaeon, Oceans, Monuments, Killer Be Killed, Tallah and Alluvial, among several others.

The atmospheric and futuristic Silhouette will put you to bang your head nonstop to the metallic riffs by Brandon and Martin and the rumbling bass by Chase in a great display of modern-day Metalcore, with Jake leading his crew with his melodic and enraged vocals; followed by Spark, featuring pop-punk-resurgence star Sueco, another blast of ONI’s melodious Metalcore with Joe’s drums dictating the song’s pace while Johnny adds his share of electricity to the music with his xylosynth, with the song’s harsher vocals making it even more exciting. Then we have Underneath My Skin, featuring the aforementioned Kellin Quinn on vocals, where Jake and his ONI continue to blend metal sounds with atmospheric and electronic nuances, not to mention the solid vocal duo between Jake and Kellin, and it’s time to turn up the heat in Silence In A Room Of Lies, a neck-breaking, Djent-infused feast where Jake is joined by guest Jared Dines on vocals, always supported by the sick riffage by Brandon and Martin.

ONI’s modern-day fusion of Metalcore and Djent keeps hammering our heads in Cyanide, with Chase sounding menacing with his bass jabs, being tailored for admirers of the genre; and there’s no sign of Jake & Co. slowing down at all in The Dread, featuring vocalist Justin Hill, where they continue their headbanging feast with another round of their incendiary riffs and metallic bass lines, plus of course the wicked xylosynth by Johnny. Then featuring renowned bassist Josh Gilbert and vocalist Howard Jones, Aura is a born-to-be-a-hit on any rock and metal radio, with Jake and Howard sounding insane on vocals throughout the entire song, boosted by the massive beats by Joe, whereas Armageddon, featuring Michael Lessard on vocals, follows the same pattern as the rest of the album, bringing the band’s Metalcore sound and their undeniable energy. It could have been a little more dynamic and fresher, or different than its predecessors, though. And closing the album we’re treated to Burns My Soul, inspiring us all to jump up and down with Jake while Brandon and Martin fire sheer electricity from their guitars.

In a nutshell, The Silver Line ups the ante once more, adding another full-length chapter to ONI’s ever-expanding songbook, representing a means to exorcise personal demons for anyone who listens and connects to the sound, the spirit and the stand taken by the songs, being as much for the listener as it is for Jake. “Music is such a gift,” said Jake thoughtfully. “If you can make music, and people respond to it? I’ve learned not to take that for granted. Count your blessings because the opportunity to make music is such a great one. We should always be grateful. Because it’s the coolest job anyone could do.” Hence, you can show Jake how much you love the music by ONI by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming all of their creations on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of The Silver Line by clicking HERE. The Silver Line is undoubtedly ONI’s strongest effort since the band’s inception in 2014, and if you give them a chance I’m sure you’ll get addicted to their music and keep spinning the album while fighting your inner demons alongside one of the rising names of the Canadian Metalcore and Djent scene.

Best moments of the album: Spark, Silence In A Room Of Lies and Aura.

Worst moments of the album: Armageddon.

Released in 2023 Ironshore Records

Track listing
1. Silhouette 3:13
2. Spark  3:07
3. Underneath My Skin  2:53
4. Silence In A Room Of Lies 3:15
5. Cyanide 2:51
6. The Dread 3:11
7. Aura 3:32
8. Armageddon 3:09
9. Burns My Soul 3:47

Band members
Jake Oni – vocals
Brandon White – guitars
Martin Andres – guitars
Johnny DeAngelis – xylosynth
Chase Bryant – bass
Joe Greulich – drums

Guest musicians
Sueco – vocals on “Spark”
Kellin Quinn – vocals on “Underneath My Skin”
Justin Hill – vocals on “The Dread”
Josh Gilbert – bass on “Aura”
Howard Jones – vocals on “Aura”
Michael Lessard – vocals on “Armageddon”
Jared Dines – vocals on “Silence In A Room Of Lies”

Album Review – Viscera / Carcinogenesis (2023)

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UK’s own Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster returns with their striking sophomore album, an essential listening for fans of modern Deathcore.

Formed in 2019 in the UK and featuring former members of Heart of a Coward, Abhorrent Decimation, Martyr Defiled, Nervecell and Surfaces, the electrifying Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster Viscera returned to the battlefield this year with their sophomore opus, titled Carcinogenesis, the follow-up to their 2020 breakthrough debut Obsidian. Produced by Viscera and Justin Hill, and mixed and mastered by Simon Pietroforte, the album is an essential listening for fans of modern Deathcore, Pantera, Killswitch Engage and Fit For an Autopsy, showcasing all the rage and dexterity by frontman Jamie Graham, guitarists Charlie Michael and Adam Bell, and bassist David Archer and drummer Alex Micklewright (both having left the band recently for personal reasons). “Lyrically/thematically, this album continues on from Obsidian with Delilah’s soul reaping cover. This time the energy she has gathered feeds her tyrannical partner, who in turn uses the newly absorbed life force to corrupt all around him. Metaphorically it’s a statement of how humanity tends to feed of others only then to tear itself apart,” commented Jamie about the band’s infuriated new opus.

The album kicks off with the gripping, melodic and imposing title-track Carcinogenesis, blending the best elements from Technical Death Metal and Symphonic Deathcore while Alex is bestial behind his drums and Jamie roars manically for our vulgar delectation; followed by Rats with Wings and its insurgent lyrics barked by Jamie (“A legion shall arise / A second sun has risen / Encase the earth in a fiery prison / The weeping world shall reap / The fruits of her dark secrets bequeathed / Calling out from the dark / Bring forth the ancient arc / Behind her blackest eyes / Unquenching thirst for blood”), while his bandmates generate a fulminating wall of Deathcore sounds. Then the band takes their animosity and heaviness to a whole new level in the headbanging extravaganza Layers of Skin, with Charlie and Adam spreading fire and hatred through their riffs supported by the crushing drums by Alex, and there’s no time to breathe as Viscera keep hammering our damned souls in Resolver, showcasing another violent vocal performance by Jamie and the always melodic but fierce riffs by the band’s guitar duo.

One more round of their demented Deathcore comes in the form of Omnipotence, presenting deep, inhumane roars by Jamie while his bandmates keep exhaling aggressiveness from their sonic weapons, whereas Sungazer is one of the most exciting songs of the album, with the soaring vocal lines by Jamie matching perfectly with the song’s epic atmosphere while Charlie and Adam continue to hypnotize us with their riffs and solos. In Lex Talionis we face more of their wicked lyrics (“I was trying to rebuild something / You promised that you’d listen to me / But if that were true it meant that you were human / That’s something that remains to be seen”) while the music is Deathcore played to perfection; followed by Demon Queen, absolutely technical, intricate and groovy, and the only song of the album where the vocals by Jamie are almost one hundred percent clean, overflowing darkness and heaviness until the very last second. And lastly, we have On Earth as it is in Hell, the most introspective and sinister of all songs, closing the album on a high note spearheaded by the pounding beats by Alex while its otherworldly vibe will darken your thoughts for all eternity.

Viscera more than nailed it with Carcinogenesis, which is by the way available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, positioning it as one of the top heavy music albums of 2023 hand down. Hence, don’t forget to pay those guys a visit on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and more of their infernal music, and of course to purchase your copy of Carcinogenesis from the Unique Leader Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD or as a special edition 12″ vinyl, as well as from indiemerchstore.com also as a a special edition 12″ vinyl (or simply click HERE to buy or stream the album form your favorite retailer). The word “carcinogenesis” might mean the initiation of cancer formation, when normal cells are transformed into cancer cells, but in the case of Viscera it represents the initiation of an exciting new phase in their career, setting the bar high for their future releases and, therefore, offering us all another amazing reason for raising our horns high in the name of heavy music.

Best moments of the album: Carcinogenesis, Layers of Skin, Sungazer and Lex Talionis.

Worst moments of the album: Absolutely none.

Released in 2023 Unique Leader Records

Track listing
1. Carcinogenesis 5:49
2. Rats with Wings 3:31
3. Layers of Skin 4:03
4. Resolver 3:41
5. Omnipotence 3:40
6. Sungazer 4:33
7. Lex Talionis 4:30
8. Demon Queen 4:44
9. On Earth as it is in Hell 5:11

Band members
Jamie Graham – vocals
Charlie Michael – guitars
Adam Bell – guitars, synths
David Archer – bass, synths
Alex Micklewright – drums