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Photo by Jo Foster
Usta, the tempestuous, feral amalgamation of fast-paced noise rock, blackened post-hardcore, and Croatian folk, return with their long-awaited debut album, Beatings Come from Heaven via Sonichimaera. The album, produced by Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Tool), captures the band’s volatile energy with an urgent, raw approach, recorded mostly in first or second takes over a whirlwind two-day session in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Alongside the album announcement, Usta unveil a gritty performance video for “Relax”, directed by guitarist Lachlan Kerr and vocalist Heli Kerr, with videographer Lucas Healy. The video offers a glimpse into the band’s electrifying presence, further cementing their reputation as an uncompromising sonic force.
Despite the rapid-fire approach, Beatings Come from Heaven is far from minimalistic. The album features bottle slide performances from Toshi, the haunting tones of the dvojnice on the album opener, and an unpredictable arsenal of vocal performances from Heli Kerr, shifting from screams and shrieks to operatic howls and guttural chants.
Usta’s unique sound fuses noise rock, black metal, hardcore, and punk with the harmonies and scales of traditional Croatian music, topped off by the world’s first solid-body electric šargija. Beatings Come From Heaven is a testament to their chaotic, boundary-pushing artistry.