“A pilgrimage to the end of the world.”
Few modern artists embody the progressive metal spirit as vigorously as URNE. Pulling inspiration from scene stalwarts like Mastodon and, perhaps with a little less subtlety and grace, Gojira, URNE have spent their first decade as a band refining a sound that balances crushing heaviness with the grand, theatrical flair that modern prog is known for. As such, the arrival of Setting Fire to the Sky in 2026 feels particularly significant, as not only does it stand as the band’s third full-length, but it also coincides with the ten-year anniversary of their formation in 2016, with the record reflecting that decade-long journey in its assured quality.
While prior efforts SERPENT & SPIRIT and A Feast On Sorrow had plenty of highs, they also carried an air of self-discovery, with the London metallers still sharpening their focus and establishing a homegrown identity. If those records represented the journey, then Setting Fire to the Sky is unmistakably the destination: a confident climax of hard-earned lessons and the clearest realization yet of URNE’s intended sound, setting them up strongly for a lengthy and exciting career.
The opening moments of “Be Not Dismayed” spotlight two immediate advances: a sharpened production that ensures that URNE aresounding exponentially bigger as a unit, and a leap forward in frontman Joe Nally’s vocal delivery. While neither area was ever a glaring weakness, the opener serves as a clear statement of growth on both fronts. A powerful vocal range encompasses an array of mighty screams among the verses and prominent tenor cleans that soar high above a satisfying chorus, amplified by a clean, clear, yet unsterile production effort that carries onward throughout the release. And certainly, while URNE may sometimes come across a bit on-the-nose with their aforementioned Gojira-isms, the guitar work strays from being a one-to-one rehash with technically proficient licks and a fantastic solo. One thing is for certain: “Be Not Dismayed” comes out of the gate swinging, and I’m hard-pressed to think of any other way URNE should’ve set the precedent here.
“Weeping to the World” feels like a natural continuation of “Be Not Dismayed,” carrying many of the same elements in a recognisably familiar framework, albeit transposed into a different key. It’s undoubtedly solid, if a bit predictable, but ultimately feels like a transitory lull before hitting “The Spirit, Alive”, one of the album’s crown gems. Killer riffs atop Nally’s most uncompromising and heartfelt screams yet, “The Spirit, Alive” lives up to its name in every sense.
Setting Fire to the Sky’s title track is unsurprisingly grandiose in proportions, firing on all cylinders for nearly 7 minutes. It’s within these extended runtimes that URNE show a readiness to exercise boldness, allowing each section to stand apart and unfold with greater dynamism and contrast than the one before it. “The Ancient Horizon” follows suit, weaving murky, melancholic passages into ferocious double-bass onslaughts, capped by some of Joe Nally’s most savage vocal performances. Haunting and unforgiving, this track is an unquestioned beast that demands repeated listens.
“Towards the Harmony Hall” is another dynamic burner, packed with some of Angus Neyra’s thrashiest riffs yet; many sharp enough to put Dave Mustaine to shame (though that’s not exactly a tall order these days). The latter half of the track returns triumphantly to the melancholy of the previous track, with a beautiful, almost Opethian solo courtesy of Neyra that rounds out the track nicely before we arrive at the elephant in the room, “Harken the Waves”, a 9-minute Colossus of Rhodes that brings out all the metallic stops. The 1:20 mark features perhaps the catchiest riff on the LP, one that still lives rent-free in my head at time of writing. The penultimate song also features Mastodon’s Troy Sanders, who meshes brilliantly with Nally, sharing a similar vocal range while remaining distinct enough to ensure they never blend into a single entity. Meanwhile, “Breathe” closes the album on a short, somber, percussion-free note, providing a striking contrast to the metallic intensity of the rest of the record.
Given the remarkable growth and maturity URNE demonstrate on this record, there’s very little room for disappointment. Beyond that, it’s difficult to envision where they could go next. For fans of the influential acts URNE openly draw from, Setting Fire to the Sky is an early contender for album of the year. Tight, cohesive, and cinematic, Setting Fire to the Sky cements URNE’s status, leaving no doubt that, whatever the future holds, they are destined for the progressive metal hall of fame.
8/10
Setting Fire to the Sky is out Friday, January 30th, and you can pre-order it here.