Ruke
We were recently contacted by Morgan about his first EP of heavy ukulele rock (yeah…..I was confused as well) to see if we could take a gander. Having been influenced by rock and blues growing up and discovering metal at 19, Morgan has taken what many perceive to be a ‘joke’ instrument and created an EP, Heavy Ukulele, with band Ruke, and we just had to see what was going on!
Opening with Gaijin we’re greeted by the unmistakeable sound of a ukulele opening things, but there seems to be more to it than a simplistic couple of notes as you might expect. Adding in some overdrive to the mix, it’s clear that you’re hearing a ukulele but at the same time, you can forgive it as the sound actually works as a more alternative instrument, creating a sound which on first listen is going to confuse you a little, but will keep you listening to find out what’s going on. Now, I’ll admit that when the layers started coming in I was more confused, the backing track almost makes the front instrument sound off, but it all comes together in the end resulting in a track which is going to change any perception you had of music and leave you wanting to know what’s going to come next!
Black Dagger opens in a more stereotypical death metal style, opening with a hammering ukulele (no matter how many times I write that I’ll never get used to it) and continuing to push the boundaries of what we accept to be metal. Despite the good work on the uke, I can’t help but feel that there’s a crucial element missing throughout these tracks – drums. Add in a solid backing beat and things will sound heavier as what you end up with here is interesting for sure, but it doesn’t work as a track per se, more an example of how you could turn the most non metal instrument into a metal instrument! Under The Sunn is possibly the highpoint of the EP, opening with a dark and ominous approach and building into a track which continues the darkness through the combination of atmospheric sounds and haunting string notes. This is the sort of style I would expect from this instrument as it doesn’t pertain to be heavier than it is, it just uses the sound its got to create a dark and ominous sound designed to create that illusion of heaviness.
It’s left to Anung Un Rama to close the EP, opening with a harmonica before ushering in that unmistakeable sound of the ukulele once again. Once again this track is let down by the lack of drums, meaning you end up with a track which has the potential to take full form, but never quite achieves it. As a closer, it certainly leaves you wanting to know more as you can’t help but wonder how the follow up is going to build on this, it’s going to be interesting.
Reading what I’ve written above I come across as very negative at times, and that’s not my aim. Ruke is a project which is taking a bold step into the unknown, taking an instrument which is as far away from metal as you can get and trying to create death metal with it. The inevitable question I suppose is whether Morgan has achieved it, and I think my answer is a no for the time being. This is an EP which gets things moving, introduces someone to a new scene and tries to change something which has been set in stone for many years, so it was never going to achieve 100% of what it tried to do. What this EP has done though is make me sit up and take note, consider the ukulele as an instrument which maybe, has the potential to do other things. The follow up to this will add more to the equation I’m sure, and I would hope to see some drums on there to help things fully take form – but for now – to see what someone can do using the anti-rock, check this out, it’s something to get you thinking for sure!
To find out more about Ruke and to hear for yourself, check out the Bandcamp page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Gaijin we’re greeted by the unmistakeable sound of a ukulele opening things, but there seems to be more to it than a simplistic couple of notes as you might expect. Adding in some overdrive to the mix, it’s clear that you’re hearing a ukulele but at the same time, you can forgive it as the sound actually works as a more alternative instrument, creating a sound which on first listen is going to confuse you a little, but will keep you listening to find out what’s going on. Now, I’ll admit that when the layers started coming in I was more confused, the backing track almost makes the front instrument sound off, but it all comes together in the end resulting in a track which is going to change any perception you had of music and leave you wanting to know what’s going to come next!
Black Dagger opens in a more stereotypical death metal style, opening with a hammering ukulele (no matter how many times I write that I’ll never get used to it) and continuing to push the boundaries of what we accept to be metal. Despite the good work on the uke, I can’t help but feel that there’s a crucial element missing throughout these tracks – drums. Add in a solid backing beat and things will sound heavier as what you end up with here is interesting for sure, but it doesn’t work as a track per se, more an example of how you could turn the most non metal instrument into a metal instrument! Under The Sunn is possibly the highpoint of the EP, opening with a dark and ominous approach and building into a track which continues the darkness through the combination of atmospheric sounds and haunting string notes. This is the sort of style I would expect from this instrument as it doesn’t pertain to be heavier than it is, it just uses the sound its got to create a dark and ominous sound designed to create that illusion of heaviness.
It’s left to Anung Un Rama to close the EP, opening with a harmonica before ushering in that unmistakeable sound of the ukulele once again. Once again this track is let down by the lack of drums, meaning you end up with a track which has the potential to take full form, but never quite achieves it. As a closer, it certainly leaves you wanting to know more as you can’t help but wonder how the follow up is going to build on this, it’s going to be interesting.
Reading what I’ve written above I come across as very negative at times, and that’s not my aim. Ruke is a project which is taking a bold step into the unknown, taking an instrument which is as far away from metal as you can get and trying to create death metal with it. The inevitable question I suppose is whether Morgan has achieved it, and I think my answer is a no for the time being. This is an EP which gets things moving, introduces someone to a new scene and tries to change something which has been set in stone for many years, so it was never going to achieve 100% of what it tried to do. What this EP has done though is make me sit up and take note, consider the ukulele as an instrument which maybe, has the potential to do other things. The follow up to this will add more to the equation I’m sure, and I would hope to see some drums on there to help things fully take form – but for now – to see what someone can do using the anti-rock, check this out, it’s something to get you thinking for sure!
To find out more about Ruke and to hear for yourself, check out the Bandcamp page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls