Not far away from the town where Nuclear Symphony raised (ex SPV/Steamhammer band), URTO was born in 2000. It is a Thrash metal band initially featuring Mimmo Saladino (Guitar/Vocals) and Jaco Tractor (Drums). The frantic riffing comes from the immoderate drinking of Dreher and Partanna (a little town in the west of Sicily) which is quite famous for that. A year after, the bass player Francesco Gioia joins the band and, the following year, it's Alessandro Olivo's turn (Lead guitar). After some performances, it's time to change: Alessandro and Jaco get out of the band. As a consequence of that, Mimmo (during the making of the kubrickian "Full Heavy metal Jacket") realizes that the band needs a real singer and he wants to concentrate on the riffing.
In 2001, Peppe Campisi (from the blacksters Sterminio) joins the band and he instils new life into the songs with his raving but accurate drumming. Urto's sound is enriched by Giovanni Labita, a pianist coming from the Academy of music, who decides to break his wrists: it's important to notice that his plots on lead guitar perfectly suit the style of the band. The line-up is complete when Alessandro Olivo decides to enter the band again but this time as a singer! With this line-up, the band plays at the Golisano Rock in summer 2002.
Afterwards, Alessandro leaves the band because of his own power-speed metal band Ancestral, but the result of the consequent auditions is not satisfactory. In spite of that, Urto go on and this perseverance rewards the band: in summer 2003, Alessandro comes back home and it's time to record "Numbers", the first chapter of the band, a fucking mosaic of frenetic guitar riffs and anti-power lyrics (the lyrics are not against Usa - as someone said – they clash with the overpowering action of the Western powers).
2004 - The E.P. “Numbers” increases the band’s reputation: terrific reviews in Italy, Germany and Poland welcome this release.
2005 - The band plays at the Delirium festival and wins the first edition of the Sicilian Rock Festival.
2006 - The band begins to compose new songs but, in the meantime, it’s time to play live because of the Italian Metal Battle 2006, a competition featuring over 250 bands from all the nation. Urto reaches the semifinal , playing at the “Circolo degli Artisti” (where Sadus, Darkane and Obituary played) in Rome with other bands. The Italian Metal jury chooses URTO and the band comes to the final which takes place in Brescia during the Evolution Festival. Finally, the band is placed second (the local grinders Cadaveric Crematorium wins the national competition for a few points) but the band shares the stage with Death Angel, Saxon, Destruction, Nile, Atheist and it gives life to a devastating thrash attack which drives the Italian kids insane.
2008 - Urto composes and records new material and has the chance to be included into "Get Thrashed" documentary soundtrack!
2009 - Urto signs to Punishment 18 Records for the release of their album which is due out on May 05.