London trio URNE consist of two ex-members of the Metal band Hang The Bastard who disbanded in 2017. ‘The Mountain Of Gold’ debut E.P kicks off with the chopping riffage on ‘Dust Atlas’ which switches between Soundgarden, Sabbath and Anthrax. The vocals also bridge these genres hopping from Death to a laconic Grunge singing style. This intriguing cocktail continues on ‘The Lady & The Devil’ which glides through the Metal genre gears with nostalgic ease. ‘Mountain Of Gold’ pounds and plods with a Black Country backbone and some larynx stripping vocals. The opening slower pace keeps a deep intensity but the cut still violently shakes the skull. Final track ‘A March Towards The Sun’ goes all out with some stones in a food mixer vocals and a brutal albeit subtle formulaic Metal resonance. URNE have slammed down an impressive opening musical marker. The contrasting compositions separate it from the brackets and labels of Trash, Speed, Death and Doom. Purely and simply put this is top quality Metal.
URNE
THE MOUNTAIN OF GOLD
8/10