URNE - Setting Fire to the Sky

URNE

Album: Setting Fire to the Sky

Genre: Prgressive Death Metal

Release Date: January 30th, 2026

Country: UK

Label: Spinefarm Music

Band Links: WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK

I don't know how many times I've listened to "A Feast of Sorrow"... probably hundreds. After their fantastic debut album "Serpent & Spirit" (2021), which I discovered while reading an interview with Joe Duplantier from Gojira, I was blown away, captivated and overwhelmed by this Behemoth wave of power and emotion. And every time I listened to it, I thought to myself: How could they possibly do better? They did.

While AFOS began with a cry of anger and despair ("Where do the memories go?"), this new album starts off on a more peaceful note, with the sound of an acoustic guitar and crackling fire. A new URNE, less dark? Partly yes. But absolutely not less powerful or epic - Far from it... After 45 seconds of "Be Not Dismayed", it explodes! Setting the tone of the album: A sublime palette of colours after a magnificent shade of grey. A feast of killer, MASSIVE riffs, solos each more magnificent than the last, breathtaking drum parts, fantastic vocals, and ideas that enrich each composition.

Joe Nally's singing has always been powerful, charismatic, and intense - Somewhere between rage and melancholy. All of that is still there, even more nuanced, even more controlled, with stratospheric choruses, but also a few moments of introspection in clear, soulful vocals (magnificent "Breathe").

His long-time friend and partner in riffs (since Hang the Bastard and the great Chapters album), Angus Neyra, is also on fire, confirming his status as one of the best guitarists of his generation. A maestro who delivers riffs as powerful as incandescent and memorable melodies.

Drummer James Cook joined the band just before the recording of AFOS, yet his performance is already remarkable. There was great anticipation to discover what he would bring to the table by participating in the entire creating process, and the result is breathtaking in its mastery, power, groove, and subtlety. He adds an incredible energy to these compositions. And to think they will be performed live as a quartet with the addition of Kurtis Bagley...

Finally it's impossible not to praise the bigger-than-life production of SikTh's Justin Hill (mixed by Johann Meyer at Silver Cord Studio) and Dan Zollinger's sublime cover art, that enhance this masterpiece - No, this MONSTERpiece.

The sky was their only limit, but since they set it on fire, they no longer have any...

Written by Jérôme