Published: January 12, 2025

When Hypnotic Dirge sent me a rather large pile of CD’s to review, I didn’t know the vast number of quality albums they have released. After this album I only have three CD’s left from them to review, and all of them have been great. Such is the case with “A Soul Purged”, the one and only output thus far from Houston, Texas-based Urbain. Looking at the cover, I thought for sure this was going to be an Industrial album. ...

Published: December 23, 2023

 Far from an uncommon topic for metal but especially black metal, misanthropy is something that we can all relate to when it comes to metal music. We’ve seen it become an absolute pillar of what many different corners of black metal are able to bring to the table with all sorts of different approaches, styles, and executions able to deliver it in such a form that leaves us understanding why humankind is a bittersweet existence...

Published: December 11, 2023

The company of Urbain and their debut album might be black metal orientated, but it is not the ‘be all and end all’ of their sound. This band is aiming to challenge black metal experiences and that is notable from the start with Perception. An opening track that focuses on gothic-toned and gloomy piano melody, before transitioning into a scathing atmospherically heavy blast of savagery. The chill that comes from this track will be felt d...

Published: October 5, 2023

Urbain is an American progressive black metal band that formed in 2020 and A Soul Purged is their debut album released by Hypnotic Dirge Records.

The band describes their style as urban black metal since their themes and concepts deal about modern urban dystopia and decay. A Soul Purged turned out a massive and innovative album. It consists of nine songs and four of them are relatively shorter instrumental songs that function a...

Published: July 29, 2023

Footsteps trudge listlessly down concrete, barely making a sound, barely existing at all. For nobody here is truly alive, but merely moving; here in that place where what could be and could have been the beautiful whisper of a soft breeze through green leaves… is the soft illusory hum of motor, engine, turbine, and rubber on asphalt. There is beauty here, but what is beauty, if not Perception, a lie, a grace to the ever failing str...

Published: July 25, 2023

Urbain are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

With a description of urban black metal, and a recommendation for fans of Emperor, White Ward, early Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle of Filth, I was intrigued to hear what Urbain had to offer. The fact that the band contain members of Ovnev and Wills Dissolve was further reason, if any were needed.

It turns out that the band references above are a good starting point for U...

Published: July 10, 2023

We sometimes wonder how the guys over at Hypnotic Dirge Records have such a similar music taste to us. From highly melancholic, to extremely experimental releases, this label has landed another winner with Urbain’s release “A Soul Purged”. Hailing from Texas, this band feels like a mixture of Vesperian Sorrow, Limbonic Art, with some splashes of Dimmu Borgir. With nine brilliant and high-octane tracks, this release is one of ...

Published: July 10, 2023

From Bandcamp, “the debut album "A Soul Purged" is a cathartic scream into the void, a sonic portrait of a world spiraling into the depths of indifference and ignorance. For those with the stomach to face the unadulterated reality of our urban dystopia, URBAIN serves as a brutal yet thought-provoking guide, brandishing music as a torch to illuminate the darkness.” The album has nine songs. “Perception” is the first. Charming piano...