A Dirty Dozen with JOE and ANGUS from URNE – June 2021

According to a recent press release: “London metal trio URNE will release their debut album Serpent & Spirit on June 25 via Candlelight Records. The band just shared the video for “The Palace of Devils & Wolves.” During the writing process for Serpent & Spirit, Nally found an old demo of the first few minutes of the track and instantly knew it had to be finished. “Desolate Heart” subsequently became the first single released from the album. Formed by ex-Hang The Bastard bassist Joe Nally and guitarist Angus Neyraafter their former band called it quits, the pair already had a reputation for big, heavy riffs. Getting drummer Richard Harris on board in 2018, they gilded their new outfit with debut EP The Mountain of Gold, which immediately marked Urne out as a formidable new metallic force.” We get Joe & Angus to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Joe: Oh, there are a lot of layers on this album, and I love that people won’t catch things straight away. There are a few tips of the hat to some legendary bands be it a lyric, riff and something cool they did artwork wise. Just have to see if people catch those moments.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Joe: Growing up I was into Billy Joel and Meatloaf but once I heard Aerosmith, I think that’s when it all changed for me. Back then as a kid I was completely into it and wanted to be in that band. As time moves in and tastes change, I wanted to do something heavier and faster. But yeah, I’d say the moment hearing Aerosmith for the first time was it for me.

Angus: Starting secondary school, there would be the older kids who I’d overhear going past the music block practicing for battle of the bands. I think they were playing “The Trooper” by Maiden and from then on, I had to know more. Eventually someone showed me John Petrucci and that’s when I knew I wanted to learn guitar properly.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Joe: Live show wise, first time I saw Metallica it was completely game over. I had been waiting a few years but when that moment came it changed my life. They are the benchmark for me and those first five albums just changed my life so much.

Angus: Pretty much the same for me. My friend Paul who was one of the older kids at school showed me how to play “Master of Puppets” on bass and then told me to go see Metallica play at Earls Court. Big turning point for me!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Joe: Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish would be amazing. The scores that guy composes are outrageous and I would love to see what he could do with one of our songs.

Angus: I’d love to have Mateus Asato feature a guitar solo on one of our tracks. For me he’s one of the best modern guitarists and just has so much taste.

5. What is your favourite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Joe: Well since Covid has hit a lot of things have changed BUT before that I’m big into my sports and going to as many events in different sports as possible was always a big thing. I’m also big into collecting records, been a hobby since 12 and it isn’t stopping anytime soon.

Angus: I’m big on watching films and series when I’m chilling at home. Recently been making my way through the X-Files from start to finish as I was terrified of just the theme song when I was younger. Otherwise, been doing some hikes and getting outdoors when I can.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe, or you disagreed with?

Joe: I would say chaos and heavy. I guess bands like Metallica and Megadeth are a good gauge. And I had someone say we sounded great, like classic Nu-Metal… Like we are nothing close to that. I had to smile and act impressed ha.

Angus: Heavy Metal. Luckily no one’s said anything too bad to me!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Joe: Hmmm we all love cooking to be honest and we like going out for fancy meals ha. I gotta say we are all equal in a lot of that, but I’d probably be the first to try and create a sing along.

Angus: I’d say we’re more the civilized drinkers now haha. Drinking the old man ales down a nice quiet local sounds a lot better. Up for a good stout too.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Joe: I thought I had been starstruck, but I met Kirk from Metallica and honestly, I can’t remember much apart my legs disappeared from under me. Like I was fully gone ha.

Angus: Haha yeah that was a funny moment. I think we were at Download, and me and a friend just saw Kirk walk past and didn’t know what to do. Then Joe just beats us to it and gets a pic with Kirk before he disappears to their area. Still gutted I missed on that one. I did manage to get a pic with Petrucci and see him and Mangini warming up before their set. That was amazing.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Joe: Hanging out with the rest of the guys at practice, like we truly get along so well and love being around each other. Dream job wise, I’m very content with what I do now and that’s working within a law firm. I never knew what I wanted to do but I’m happy right now.

Angus: Getting to write and jam with the guys is a lot of fun. Such a great feeling when you come up with an idea collaboratively, then hearing it develop into a final product. If I wasn’t doing music, I’d probably be doing video editing, which I kind of do at the moment.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Joe: question – what would I change anything about the band? Answer would be I wish we started this journey sooner, so I wish I reached out to everyone else years ago. And getting asked about lyrics, I just find it hard to talk about them right now.

Angus: No particular question, but happy to be asked anything guitar gear related. Don’t think I’ve been tired of any questions at the moment.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Joe: we had something recently that was a blip and something we’ve recovered from quickly. Can’t go into much detail but the best outcome happened.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Joe: Metallica – Master of Puppets 85/86. As I said earlier Aerosmith changed a lot for me, but Metallica guided me on this path. I can’t believe a group of young men wrote something so timeless, perfect, and passionate. I can’t put into words what that album means to me, it just means a lot.

Angus: I’d really love to have been there for Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works studio sessions. This band  were all about where heavy music could go next, and it interests me to see how some of these song ideas came about. As well as that, just seeing the engineer try map out those click tracks hah.

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Category: Interviews