Urne is a three-piece metal band from London, England, formed in 2016. The band consists of vocalist and bassist Joe Nally, guitarist Angus Neyra, and drummer James Cook.
They are known for their heavy and dynamic sound, seamlessly incorporating various metal subgenres into their music.
They released their debut EP, “The Mountain of Gold,” in 2018, followed by their first full-length album, “Serpent & Spirit,” in 2021.
Their second album, “A Feast On Sorrow,” was released on August 11, 2023.
Today we’re taking a deeper look into what is “A Feast On Sorrow” and how it came to be. We also asked Urne more about their recent tour alongside Kvelertak.
Interview
George: A Feast on Sorrow is an intense and deeply emotional album. What was the personal or collective headspace of the band while writing it?
Joe: Well, for me, I was working through the daily changes that illness was bringing to me and my family. So, my personal headspace was all over the place while making this album.
Angus: I seem to remember hearing the theme and title of the album early on in the writing process, so I wanted the riffs and music to match the albums intensity and meaning.
George: The album was produced by Joe Duplantier of Gojira. How did his influence shape the final sound and songwriting process?
Joe: A big thing for Joe was creating a vibe and energy. It needed to feel intense and darker and I think he certainly made that happen.
Once we knew Joe was on board, I think the songs started to take a more darker turn as we knew what we were all after.
George: The title itself evokes imagery of struggle and grief. Is there a particular event or theme that inspired it?
Joe: Just what my family and I were dealing with at the time. Every bit of sadness seemed to appear at the same time.
George: Your music blends sludge, thrash, and progressive elements seamlessly. Did you consciously push any new boundaries on this record?
Angus: When writing music we always want to expand our sound further from what the previous album had.
For the longer songs of the album, it was about making sure each section flowed smoothly into each other without it sounding like a jumble of riffs put together.
We all pushed our musical abilities further and I think this record shows.
George: Songs like “The Burden” and “A Stumble of Words” feel incredibly raw. Were there any moments during the recording where the emotions became overwhelming?
Joe: Surprisingly, no.
I thought I would be a mess recording this album but it was far from that.
I think the only tears shed were when us three had a day off and walked around New York. We just couldn’t believe we were there.
George: Lyrically, this album is heavier than other previous work of URNE. Was there a conscious decision to lean into darker themes, or did it evolve naturally?
Joe: Oh, I knew from track one what I needed to write about and where to take it. So I guess it was a decision taken really early on.
George: What’s a deep cut or underrated track from the album that you think deserves more attention?
Angus: I think Peace is a great underrated track which is the calm before the big finale of the album.
We worked closely with Joe Duplantier on building the layers for this which some may not be easy to pick out, but it all adds up sonically to an emotive final result.
George: How does A Feast on Sorrow translate into a live performance? Have certain tracks taken on new meaning when played in front of an audience?
Joe: Playing these songs live made us all take note of just how heavy these are musically.
I love seeing peoples faces when certain sections come in. You can tell how well its coming through to them.
George: Many fans have praised the album’s ability to be both aggressive and melancholic. How do you balance brutality with introspection in your songwriting?
Angus: Just like with writing our albums, we also like our live setlists to be a balance of heaviness and intensity mixed with melody too.
For me, I enjoy opening with ‘The Flood Came Rushing In’. The track is a great journey of dynamics and really introduces what we’re about to people who haven’t heard us before.
George: If A Feast on Sorrow was a film or a piece of visual art, what would it look like or be about?
Angus: I think music and film/visual art go hand in hand. For me, when I listen to the album I picture a David Lynch film or an Edward Hopper painting.
About URNE Touring with Kvelertak
George: Kvelertak are known for their high-energy, chaotic live shows. How did it feel sharing the stage with them?
Angus: I was already big into Kvelertak before joining them on tour, so it was great to share the stage with them and watch their show every night.
Joe: And it helps that they, along with the crew, are absolutely brilliant people.
George: Were there any standout moments or memorable interactions with the band on or off stage?
Joe: Well there was certainly a wonderful relationship building between the two drummers.
It was cool to watch that from afar, both great guys and great musicians.
George: Did playing alongside Kvelertak influence your performance style in any way?
Angus: It was great getting to know the guys and going for drinks with them after the show.
I loved hearing stories from them about their time touring and especially getting to tour with Metallica.
Joe: Live they are so different to us, plus they have more bodies on stage. They just make me want to add more energy into the mix.
George: How did the audience react to your set during these shows? Did you feel a strong connection with their fanbase?
Joe: Some nights you could tell it was all for them and there would be very little care for us but by the end of the set, you could certainly feel a change and a lot of the time that would always translate well at the merch desk.
George: After this tour, do you see URNE incorporating anything new into your future live performances?
Joe: Yes….but that is a secret!
Many thanks to URNE for this opportunity of interviewing them, stay tuned for their upcoming music!
