Unsane frontman Chris Spencer and friends are behind the noise-rock project Human Impact. Following their initial releases, there’s now news about their second album Gone Dark (Ipecac).
The band has a fresh rhythm section: Chris Pravdica and Phil Puleo have left, and Eric Cooper (Made Out of Babies, Bad Powers) and Jon Syverson (Daughters) have stepped in. Additionally, the sound has become rawer and heavier, stripping away some of the industrial elements. This brings the band closer to Unsane’s style, which is no bad thing—great band, great sound.
The album is dark and gripping. The tracks are long and take their time crawling into your ears, with a dystopian, unforgiving, and hostile sonic palette.
But these are solid songs. Hold On starts with accessible tones but soon shifts into something more menacing. Destroy to Rebuild builds its groove slowly yet powerfully, while Disconnect is epic and relentless. Even though Human Impact may have lost some of their individuality, Gone Dark is still a rewarding listen.
Human Impact – Gone Dark: Humorless noise rock at its best. – RIFL
