Puny Human's strength has always been in its focused riffs and precision attack. Without ever sounding stiff or mechanical, the band has honed its chunky four-piece sound to a razor's edge with
It's Not the Heat, It's the Humanity. But what truly steals the show is guitarist Jason Diamond's brittle, yet full fuzz tone, which sounds as good throwing out both tight, sculpted riffs and full power chords. Channeling the riff-rock of
AC/DC and
Black Sabbath -- not to mention mixing in greasy 1970s biker-movie imagery -- the group may seem retro to some, but there is no denying their skill or power. And thankfully, clichéd metal and alternative rock production techniques are dismissed for a no-frills sonic stamp that matches the band's template. "The Ox," a tribute to
John Entwistle, is as scathing as it is sincere. The noted
Howard Johnson is credited with playing baritone sax on several tracks, but his presence is inaudible if it even made the final mix. ~ John Duffy