Humanfly have always had a progressive streak in their musical armoury. That much is for certain. Somewhere between 2010’s impressive 'Darker Later' and their new record, 'Awesome Science', however the quartet’s lens has clearly shifted focus somewhat. 'Darker Later' was an oppressive, suffocatingly heavy record reliant on the immense power of the riff. 'Awesome Science', on the other hand, finds its brilliance in the dynamic plains the group traverse more thoroughly here than ever before.
Opener 'Golden Arrows' emphasises this best of all. It marks a clear break with the Humanfly battering ram tactics of old, instead occupying more widescreen territory over the course of its run time. Clean vocals and old school space rock guitar sounds are the order of the day, and Humanfly do both stupendously well. That is not to say that they have totally abandoned heaviness. Every now and again a stormer of a riff will turn up and smack you hard in the face. Such moments are not mere concessions to those expecting the Humanfly of old however, but instead act as points of contrast to the more restrained nature of 'Awesome Science' as a whole.
The highlight of the album is undoubtedly the jaw dropping 'The Apple That Never Fell'. An astonishing journey through some of the heaviest and most intricate moments on the record, this is the track that most effectively emphasises how brilliantly Humanfly have adapted their sound. Also worthy of especial mention is closer 'Frozen in Time, Billions of Light Years Away', which provides a tantalising final curtain as the band propel themselves ever onward into the deepest reaches of space. Perhaps the only track on the album that falters at all is the mammoth 'The Armour of Science' which, at fourteen minutes in length, perhaps spends a little too much time on a couple of its many themes.
Across its six tracks, 'Awesome Science' is demonstrative of a band not only willing to take risks, but also one confident in their ability to do so. This really is a staggeringly assured record from a band that has managed to transpose their abilities to a new sound without the effect even proving jarring. Rarely has an album title been more appropriate. 'Awesome Science' is, indeed, truly awesome.
'Awesome Science' is out on February 11th via Brew Records. Humanfly tour the UK in April.
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Opener 'Golden Arrows' emphasises this best of all. It marks a clear break with the Humanfly battering ram tactics of old, instead occupying more widescreen territory over the course of its run time. Clean vocals and old school space rock guitar sounds are the order of the day, and Humanfly do both stupendously well. That is not to say that they have totally abandoned heaviness. Every now and again a stormer of a riff will turn up and smack you hard in the face. Such moments are not mere concessions to those expecting the Humanfly of old however, but instead act as points of contrast to the more restrained nature of 'Awesome Science' as a whole.
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