Humanzi - 'Tremors' (Fiction) Released 24/07/06

 

Humanzi can do clean catchy music for 3 minutes then hit you with 3 minutes of dirty aggression. The variety on offer is a crucial string to ‘Tremors’ bow. Straight from the off frontman Shaun Mulrooney has an unmistakable tinge of Bobby Gillespie to his vocals. In equal parts he dishes out arrogance and sleaze. ‘Diet Pills And Magazines’ is the obvious album opener and lead off single with an infectious riff which sets you up for what’s to follow.

 

The following tracks ‘6 Gun’ and ‘Out on a Wire’ are classic rock and roll with less vitriol and more vitality to his voice. The basslines too are superb, managing to simply add atmosphere in the former and enough to let the track ride on it in the latter.  Mulrooneys refrain of “You’ll never get to heaven with the sing of a song” in Wire mark it out as a real sing-along fan frenzy.

 

The album tails off at points unfortunately. ‘Fix The Cracks’ seems like a plea to the mainstream to be accepted while ‘I Want Silence’ lends too heavily on the Killers influence.  Humanzi are best when they are forceful and create atmosphere. The title track of the album is the centrepiece half way through the album and rightfully so. From the pounding drum intro through to the hollowed out lyrical noises this band have never sounded so atmospheric. It’s ferocious climax is proof of the potential they have. 

 

The conclusion of the album ‘Mass Hypnosis (Psychosis)’ is yet another scuzzy bassline enthused track with dance influence.  The sheer violence of this track with its brutal chanting shows Humanzi’s strongpoint. A crossover success it might be but Humanzi appear most suited to deeper dirtier tracks with aggression and power and thus it is unfortunately only a partial masterpiece.