Yes, this album is called Rock & Roll Submarine. It’s a ridiculous title, and that’s only fitting; Urge Overkill, better than most anyone, have always personified and reveled in the inherent absurdities of rock and roll.
And they’ve finally returned. It’s been fifteen years since their last album, but aside from now being able to travel underwater, they haven’t changed a bit. They’ve brought thundering drums, huge riffs, catchy tunes, interweaving lead vocals, and they sound every bit as unique and out of place in today’s world as they did in the last millennium. There’s no irony here, no carefully calculated distance from the subject matter, no excuses being made… Just twelve tunes and 39 minutes of being awesome, with guitars.
Urge’s vocals are still among the best in the business; Eddie Roeser’s snarl and Nash Kato’s velvet tones fit together perfectly. The songs are catchy and dynamic, strutting, stomping, and staggering in turn. The production is phenomenal, each strum and breath and searing lick fitting just right in the mix, the close harmonies of guitars and vocals working so well that they pass by nearly unnoticed. And there’s a fantastic sense of dynamics, tunes breaking down into intimate whispers before building back up to tsunamis of noise and glorious excess. It’s the sound of a great band doing what they do best: having a blast, wholeheartedly embracing the brilliant unreality of making music.
And as for the title: Rock & Roll Submarine? Yeah, why not? It sounds cool. And it’ll probably sound even cooler played really loud.
Awesome record! It’s available for Pay What You Want with 10% to charity at http://bit.ly/urgeovr
My boner has been restored!
When the Grunge Dust settles a lot of people will realize this was one of the best bands of the 90’s. I knew it then, but I’m so glad they came back with this beautiful record as an offering. New fans please fall in retro-love with their back catalogue – you will be pleased to no end.
Great review. This album exceeded my expectations and only confirmed for me that the band I grew to love just as they disappeared still have it – and “it” got even better. Here’s hoping it’s not another 16 years before we hear something new from UO.
I agree with this review and the previous posts… this album kicks some serious butt. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do. Can’t stop listening to it!
BEAUTIFUL YET HARD TO BELIEVE THE BARCLORDS ARE BACK,THE DRAGON HAS RE-ENTERED IN STYLE AND TO READ A REVIEW BY SOMEONE WHOS A FAN AND NOT A WANNABEE MUSIC JOURNO IS ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS THE ALBUM!OK TIS BEEN 16 YRS BUT STILL SHOULD’VE KNOWN FUCKIN BETTER THAN TO THINK WAT STARTED BRILLIANT COULD ONLY GET BETTER!I ADORE UO,THEY ARE EVRYTHING A BAND SHOULD BE AND ALL THAT MOST BANDS OF TODAY ARE NOT, IE REAL,UNPRETENTIOUS,MUSICAL AND UNAFFECTED BY ‘TODAY’!LAND THAT SUB IN IRELAND WHEN TOUING DUDES….PLEASE!