Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: Various. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Valley Of The Wolf - Tracklisting
1.Divine Slaughter (Backyard Barbecue Bonanza) 04:27
2.Earthsuckers 05:42
3.Valley Of The Wolf 05:18
4.Ghost in the Diamond Cage 05:01
5.Mötorhog 03:06
6.Nail That Binds 04:51
7.The Sand Witch 04:01
8.Divination 05:37
9.Descent 00:57
10.Revolting Power 08:44
Members
Calloway Jones - Guitars, Vocals, Keys
Niko Cvetanovich - Bass, Backing Vocals, Keys
Jimmy Czywczynski - Drums, Backing Vocals
Review
Progressive Stoner Metallers Üga Büga continue enhancing their own highly original and deeply fantastical world that’s powered through a tone of heavy grooves formed from the legendary sounds of Grunge, Doom, Sludge, Psych, Prog and Stoner Metal. Their second album Valley Of The Wolf is way more out there compared to their celebrated debut album Year Of The Hog. The vocals are freakishly outlandish which fully sells the fantastical element of Üga Büga’s overall storyline and heavy pulsating beats their music brilliantly contains.
Influenced by the likes of Mastodon, High On Fire, Soundgarden and The Mars Volta once more, the band are masters of their own craft with thrilling tales of fantasy and science fiction set against the backdrop of modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal. The music is also more DOOM & GLOOM obsessive with the harsh realities of Atmospheric Sludge Metal appearing very early on that’s set against the primal neanderthal grooves that the band lay down within the opening tracks of Divine Slaughter (Backyard Barbecue Bonanza) and Earthsuckers.
There’s a lot of different switching around of musical tempos on how everything is delivered. You can detect slight variations of bands such as IRON MAIDEN and BEYOND THE COLOUR AND ME starting to emerge with the scorched and desolate themes of the storyline fully starting to take charge. The music can be quite abstract and solitary but with Üga Büga relying on Jazz Metal and Prog Metal techniques which allows their music to be more free-form and experimental when compared to their debut album.
Some of the vocals are quite extreme but they’re easy to understand as Üga Büga demonstrate a complex style of different musical techniques whilst becoming quite obsessed with Classic Hard Rock and Grunge dynamics on other tracks contained on the album. You can feel, hear and detect a massive Devin Townsend vibe appearing within some of the vocal changes and sublime humour appearing within the lyrics.
There is a lot to cover and unpack on Valley Of The Wolf as Üga Büga throws everything into the creative blender and just lets the MAGIC happen. The record may not be for everyone but that’s their loss as this album is brilliantly entertaining from start to finish where Üga Büga avoids the dreaded sophomore curse with flying colours.
Other standout tracks on the album include Ghost In The Diamond Cage, Motorhog, Divination and Revolting Power. These tracks contain the most outrageous and straight-forward riff-centric melodies that will have you headbanging to your hearts content in no time at all. Plus you’ll be amazed by the technical ability that Üga Büga possesses and play on these tracks alone. As the band play different styles of HEAVY METAL at the same time which will have you thinking - HOW THE FUCK IS THIS PHYSCIALLY POSSIBLE.
It’s these moments that allow Üga Büga to be one of the most technically impressive and musically brilliant bands that have emerged from the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal underground scene within the last decade or so.
Valley Of The Wolf is completely surreal, outlandish, bat-shit crazy and brilliantly entertaining. It is also one of the most crazed musical experiences I’ve had this year alone with it’s neverending supply of hard hitting grooves that never misses the target.
Outstanding. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Üga Büga and US/THEM PR Group for the promo.
Links
ugabugaband.com
instagram.com/ugabugaband
facebook.com/ugabugaband
https://ugabuga.bandcamp.com/album/valley-of-the-wolf
