REVIEW

The debut album from French coldwave band Urge.

Started by Adrien Broué (vocals) and Simon Chaubard (guitar) of the extreme metal band Plebeian Grandstand, the project expanded into a five-piece with Hugo Dupuis (drums), Clement Libes (bass/producer), and Mathieu Félix (guitar) to record this album.

Musically, Urge can be described as a hybrid of goth and shoegaze. Amidst a decadent, shadow-laden atmosphere, guitars shimmer like auroras, while vocals alternate between anguished wails and emotive passages, leaving deep traces of sorrow. The title track stands out as a highlight, unfolding into vast soundscapes that feel like burning meteors cascading across the earth.

The recent trend of metal musicians transitioning into goth and shoegaze is well exemplified here, and it is very welcome. Fans of House of Harm and Drab Majesty should definitely take note.