On their 2024 debut album, Year of the Hog, Üga Büga served up a saucy slab of proggy sludge metal with a side of barbecue sauce. The trio from Charlottesville, Virginia are self-proclaimed purveyors of “hog rock,” inspired by Mastodon, High on Fire, Soundgarden, and classic science fiction and fantasy comic book art. Now, they’re gearing up to release their follow-up record, Valley of the Wolf, later this year, and we’re premiering the first single today, “Motorhog.”
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“Motorhog” is a blistering rocker and one of Üga Büga’s more straightforward songs. It sets the pace immediately with a ferocious snare fill and a mosh-worthy, heavy bluesy riff, inviting the listener to start headbanging immediately. However fast-paced it might be, the band still shows a sense of dynamism, with the verses pulling the intensity back and leaving the vocals–which have a surprising bluesy crooner quality to them, almost like Elvis Presley–to drive the song over top of a thick, meaty bassline. Then the chorus hits and that restraint disappears. We are treated to the return of the energetic main riff and some fiery, abrasive vocals that could sand your ears right down to the bone. All in all, “Motorhog” is a short and sweet tune that gets the blood flowing and the fists pumping.
–Kevin Zecchel
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Valley of Wolf releases June 5th.
