Uzala is one of the most exciting listens I have recently come across. Including members of legendary doom/sludge outfit Graves At Sea, blackened doom overlords Atriarch and the newly formed funeral doom destructive force Ephemeros (if you have not done so yet, you should definitely check out their debut album) and with Darcy Nutt taking over the main vocal duties and shares the guitar work with Chad Remains, the band becomes more and more intriguing by the second. And if you consider that Tales of Blood and Fire is coming out just a year after their self-titled debut you can only stand in awe in front of the band’s ability to conjure material of such high quality.
What becomes obvious about the music of the band is that it is quite dim. The combination of their doom metal foundation and the inclusion of some sludge-y bits along with their psychedelic influences make this album quite dark… and therefore absorbing. And what acts as the perfect contrast to the band’s heavy sound is Nutt’s unbelievable voice. Slicing through the huge sounds and slow riffs, it is wondrous to behold and it makes the whole journey through Uzala’s mystical realm even more enthralling. Even when the parts are heavy and full, as is the case with the peaks that the band reaches in “Countess”, she is giving the music an even more thunderous edge. And what is even more impressive is what she is able to do when the music is stripped down, as is the case with the hypnotizing “Dark Days”, a psychedelic sonic trip through the dark passages of the mind with Nutt accompanying you along the way proving that she has a voice that can simply transcend genres.
The more interesting aspect of the album though is the ability of the band to pass through different moods and vibes with unreal ease. The heavy, doom parts of “Seven Vails” find a point of equilibrium with the more laid back psychedelic moments of the band, creating an inescapable and devastating offering, enriched with the unearthly guitar leads the track can have you as easily bang your head as it can send you away to a mesmerizing trip. Of similar vibe is “Tenement of the Lost” with the tempo really slowing down while the distorted guitars are building immense walls of sound and then you suddenly sink into Uzala’s psychedelic domain with the hypnotizing quality of the bass and the bizarre melodies.
In some cases Uzala choose to stay on one side completely. “Dark Days” sees the band stripping down all of their heavy doom self, unleashing massive waves of feedback and rendering you incapable to breathe for the first six minutes. With the guitars going to work and the vocals soon joining in, the track continues to exceed reality altogether. The dark tone of “Dark Days” leaves a burning mark on you showing the depths that this band can dive to. On the other hand the band has the ability to also compose more straightforward songs, as is the case with the most energetic track of the album, “Burned”. With the addictive riffs and its vibe the track stands out and due its shorter length it becomes the most easy-listening moment of the album, still amazing not to take anything away from it. Specifically the part with the double vocals is mind blowing.
But it is when “Countess” comes in when you get the full extent of what Uzala can achieve. The 70s influences are used in an exquisite way while the ethereal vocals are sending you even further within this feast of psychedelic doom. The face melting solos and the guitar work on the background tie in perfectly with the great foundation that is laid down by the drums and bass to bring what is the highlight of this release. Especially the building up and the eventual peak of the track, about seven minutes in, are shattering the world around you.
With their second album, Uzala are literally sending demons to consume you. The band has found a perfect state of equilibrium between their heavy side and their psychedelic nature. Tales of Blood and Fire is easily one of the best releases of the year.
UZALA Tales of Blood & Fire Autumnal Wanderings
with MIKE SCHEIDT (YOB, VHÖL) (all dates)
(¥ with MOUNT SALEM, † with Sabbath Assembly)
10/15 Boise, ID @ Visual Arts Collective UZALA RECORD RELEASE SHOW with Muscle & Marrow
10/16 SLC, UT @ venue TBA w/ EAGLE TWIN
10/17 Denver, CO @ Three Kings w/ Space in Time and Munimula
10/18 Madison, WI @ WISCO w/ local support tba ¥
10/19 Chicago, IL @ Township w/ BONGRIPPER ¥
10/20 Columbus, OH @ Ruby Tuesday’s w/ LO PAN ¥
10/21 Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus Bar w/ local support tba ¥
10/22 DAY OFF/ NO SHOW
10/23 Providence, RI @ Dusk w/ Bog of the Infidel ¥
10/24 Boston, MA @ venue tba ¥
10/25 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie with Heavy Temple ¥
10/26 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar AUTUMN SCREAMS DOOM FEST w/ LOSS, Serpentine Path, Churchburn, others ¥
10/27 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Druglord ¥
10/28 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 w/ Caltrop ¥
10/29 Atlanta, GA @ venue TBA ¥
10/30 New Orleans, LA @ venue TBA ¥
10/31 Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ COMMUNION †
11/01 Fort Worth, TX @ The Grotto w/ Solomon †
11/02 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves w/ Dead to a Dying World †
THE ROAD HOME…
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