For those unaware, when the world was asked if it was time for new music from Urge Overkill, it responded with one word: Oui.

A double singer-songwriter attack, Urge Overkill is composed of two unique voices, Nash Kato and King Roeser.

Oui, their first new release in more than a decade, and being released by Omnivore Recordings on CD, Vinyl and Digital on February 11th, 2022, is full of their signature mix of rock, hooks, and fancy bling, which is exactly what a post-pandemic planet has needed for far too long.

1. FREEDOM!
2. A NECESSARY EVIL
3. FOLLOW MY SHADOW
4. HOW SWEET THE LIGHT
5. I BEEN READY
6. A PRISONER’S DILEMMA
7. FORGIVEN
8. TOTEM POLE
9. LITANY
10. I CAN’T STAY GLAD@U
11. WON’T LET GO
12. SNOW

This vibrantly luxurious new album, which features 11 new originals along with a cover of Wham!’s 1984 hit FREEDOM, actually has the jaunty audacity to open with this track, a typically riff-rocking Urge Overkill song rendition if ever there were, and they then back that up with their known brand of melodica rock on A NECESSARY EVIL, the faster-paced FOLLOW MY SHADOW and then come both the beautifully fervently manic HOW SWEET THE LIGHT and the modern rock overtones of I BEEN READY are brought forth.

Next up is one of my own personal favorites, the lazy hazy AOR of A PRISONER’S DILEMMA which is itself backed seamlessly by the foot-tapping, blues rock grooves of FORGIVEN, the swirling pop tune TOTEM POLE, the drum-led, mid-tempo beats found entwinned within LITANY, the album rounding out on the raggedly poignant vocals and brooding lyrics of I CAN’T STAY GLAD@U, the rocker WON’T LET GO, coming to a righteous close on the guitar-layered, tightly arranged and raspingly sung SNOW.

Roeser and Kato, two Minnesota native sons, met at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Pulling their name from Parliament’s title track “Funkentelechy,” Urge Overkill was born in 1984, releasing their debut EP Strange I… on fellow Northwestern student Steve Albini’s Ruthless Records (with Albini in the production chair, as well).

Touch and Go Records founder Cory Rusk championed the band as well, and Jesus Urge Superstar appeared on that classic Chicago label, once again helmed by Albini (while the band was housed in his basement).

Next came 1990’s Americruiser, this time produced by Butch Vig, featuring a sound and style that influenced fellow bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, who would consequently use Vig on albums like Siamese Dream and Nevermind.

1991’s The Supersonic Storybook (named by Material Issue’s Jim Ellison) brought Albini back to the production role, and Urge opened for Nirvana on American and European legs of Nirvana’s Nevermind tour. At that point, Pearl Jam tapped them for their Vs. tour, and Urge Overkill was playing arenas.

Urge recruited Kramer (Bongwater, Butthole Surfers) to produce 1992’s Stull EP, which included a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” and the original “Goodbye to Guyville” — whose title was adapted by Liz Phair for her acclaimed debut.

Even as just an EP, the release proved that Urge was ready for the big leagues, and they signed to Geffen Records later that year.

1993 brought the world Saturation, produced by the Butcher Bros. (Cypress Hill, Nine Inch Nails, Anthrax). Featuring radio hits like “Sister Havana” and “Positive Bleeding,” the band rock ’n’ rolled on. While working on Saturation’s follow-up, Quentin Tarantino picked Stull’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” for inclusion in his 1994 film Pulp Fiction.

The movie and soundtrack became a massive hit, rocketing Urge into the public consciousness. After 1995’s Exit the Dragon, Urge’s whirlwind first decade came to a close. It was time for a break.

Kato and Roeser reunited in 2010, playing a set at Tarantino’s Friar’s Club Roast, and sat on the podium alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman. Two years later, Rock & Roll Submarine was released to great acclaim (garnering four stars from MOJO magazine).

Now, a decade later, Urge Overkill returns with Oui — 12 new tracks, including 11 originals and an Urge-ified cover of Wham!’s Freedom! It’s the logical extension of everything everyone loves about Urge Overkill: killer riffs, memorable hooks, and the style and swagger of Nash Kato and King Roeser.

Official Purchase Link

Official Purchase Link

www.omnivorerecordings.com

Listen to Freedom!

Watch the Urge Overkill Trailer!

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