What do you think of preludes? An unexpected question? Well, don’t expect any, just like I didn’t get any preludes in URSTAAT‘s new album, “Autophagia.”
From the first seconds of the song “Primal,” URSTAAT clearly sets the rhythm and lets you know what to expect: the mood, the style, the narrative, the idea, the concept, the feelings.
A strong and promising opening, pure and sincere playing. You immediately get the impression that the musicians’ souls are revealed – they’re right there, all you have to do is listen.
URSTAAT –
this is 4-member band from Athens that plays Post Metal / Sludge instrumental music. On November 13, 2025 their first full-length album entitled “Autophagia” was released through SODEH Records (Canada).
“Autophagia” – it is 6 instrumental compositions that have a hypnotic effect. I’m not kidding, if you listen to the first song “Primal” until the end, which is 8 minutes long, then keep in mind that you got stuck and disappeared into the abyss beyond retrieve and now
– “The Matrix has you” or maybe it’s better to say “Autophagia has you”?
This is why I love music and musicians like URSTAAT, because I don’t just have fresh, new melodies to listen to, but a whole world and ideas contained in the album, connected into a single whole.
Let’s start, perhaps, with the definition of the term “autophagy”. “Autophagy” (biological) is your body’s cellular recycling system – allows your body to reuse old cell parts so your cells can operate more efficiently. “Autophagy” (phycological) is the practice of self-cannibalism, a sub category of self-injurious behavior.
And now choose your weapon and fight!
How does this relate to URSTAAT and their music? Perhaps one answer lies in their album cover: two fuzzy humanoid figures, one absorbing the other.
Or is the answer in the effect music produces when you listen to it? An internal cleansing, I’d say. A feeling of travel and immersion in oneself, a complete disconnection of the brain from everyday routine. There are only one’s own feelings, unexpected discoveries of new sensations of oneself and the world around.
I think it’s a good thing that there are no vocals. URSTAAT’s music is self-sufficient and makes a powerful statement. This allows the inner voice to take over the vocal part and play in unison. Listening to the album “Autophagia” is like reading a book. Not a film, where all the images and visuals are ready, and there is little room for imagination, but a book.
It’s a true pleasure to get in touch with your inner self without any intermediaries, without imposing opinions and other people’s ideas. Just your true feelings and music.
URSTAAT’s “Autophagia” not only showcases the individual elements that characterize post-metal and sludge music, but it also weaves them into a cohesive narrative that deepens our understanding of the genres.
“Autophagia”
is marked by its heavy riffs, slow tempos, and thick sound featuring down-tuned, sludgy riffs. This combination of heaviness and emotional tension is a signature feature of the album. The interplay of heavy, progressive structures and soft sections creates a dynamic range, allowing listeners to experience a wide spectrum of emotions – from gloom to catharsis.
In summary, “Autophagia” combines the fusion of heaviness and atmospheric elements, illustrating how instrumentation, dynamics, and emotional depth define the post-metal and sludge experience. Through this prism, the album serves as a valuable addition to the genre, highlighting its potential to evoke powerful emotional responses while offering a profound exploration of sound.
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l05LR7qVGOUPovHdJsDdSE1RjQTsHrYxw
Tracklist:
1. Primal
2. Mitra-Varuna
3. Misha039
4. Under the Gaze of the Other
5. Autophagia
6. Between the Sea and the Security Fence
