Ugly Yeti – Floating Away (2023)
If Rage Against The Machine were to have a child with Thrice and System of a Down raised it, that rumbunctious kid would be Ugly Yeti. For about eight years, the UK-based quintet has been enchanting audiences with their hard rock sound. Drawing together the natural talent of Tristan French (lead vocals), Saad Shaikh (guitar and backing vocals), Maciej Szopa (bass), Paul Cho (keyboard, synths and backing vocals), and Ankit Sinha (drums), Ugly Yeti has established themselves as a leader in the UK music scene. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Floating Away’.
Known for their energetic and enthusiastic style, Ugly Yeti’s confident stage presence intoxicates audiences from the get-go. While their engaging gigs are something spectacular, their studio releases aren’t that bad either. Following their EP Emergence, ‘Floating Away’ is the group’s first release in three years. Whether this was a break due to Covid or just a brief interlude to focus on gigging, ‘Floating Away’ is a sensational return to the streaming sites.
As with their previous material, Ugly Yeti retains a hard-hitting punch with ‘Floating Away’. Yet, an evolution can be noted with the new single leaning more toward metal within a hard rock sonic wrapper. Pounding drums meet powerful guitars punching you in the gut with the force of the instrumentation. A slight reprieve can be heard through French’s warm vocals, particularly the chorus, bringing warmth and charm to the tune. Don’t get too comfortable though as scorching heavy metal-influenced vocals roll through the gritty verses.
Just as the melody courses through your veins with its fiery noise, the lyricism is as intriguing. Based on the rush of music, one might consider the message to be dark and damning to an extent. Interestingly enough, it is a rather simple one expressed through grassroots chaos. Ugly Yeti explain that ‘Floating Away’ looks at “reaching out for help when you need it…”
Self-recorded and produced at their home studio Thunderclaw Studios, ‘Floating Away’ captures the intensity of a live performance in a sophisticated song. Anthemic and dynamic, I can easily see this song played in both small venues and large festivals while people pump their fists in the air.
For more from Ugly Yeti, check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
