*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is California!
Hailing from Los Angeles, Once Human is a brutal force in Metal to be reckoned with and not for the faint of heart. Formed in 2014 by music producer and guitarist extraordinaire Logan Mader (of Soulfly and Machine Head fame) after joining forces with Australian guitarist-turned-singer Lauren Hart, bassist Damian Rainauld and drummer Ralph Alexander. Shortly after the release of their debut album, The Life I Remember in August of 2015, Alexander was replaced on drums by Dillion Trollope. With the addition of Skyler Howren on guitars, the current line up was complete. Already touring with Fear Factory and soon with Death Angel, Once Human is proving that they have what it takes to propagate their very dark brand of music in the Metal world.
Predictably, the guitar work by Mader is fast, accurate and furious. He successfully weaves potent harmonies, melodies and solos through near oppressive rhythm guitars and often dissonant symphonic backing tracks. Also impressive are the bass lines of Rainauld and the drumming of Trollpe; both pushing a moving rhythm from a restrained staccato to explosive and back; barely letting the listener catch their breathe in between. Not to be left out, the deep growl of the demure-looking Lauren Hart is quite shocking and leaves every, hate-filled lyric intelligible. It is angry, visceral and has a low rasp that is unusual from any female vocalist. With this extreme vocal abuse it is amazing that she has a beautiful, clean singing voice when it shows up; usually as a counterpoint of sarcasm against very dark lyrics. Songs like You Cunt and lyrics like “you are a waste of a shallow grave” are just teasers of the deep, dark pit where this band pulls its energy.
Once Human leaves nothing on the table with any part of their abusive, in-your-face songwriting. The music and lyrics are violent, explicit and ferocious. Simply put, Once Human is the soundtrack to an H. R. Giger nightmare!
Check them out: Facebook
Debut video: Once Human: You Cunt (*** Warning: This is harsh and contains explicit lyrics and content. NSFW!)
