At times, Irish dance-rock combo
Humanzi sound superficially similar to current dancefloor-friendly acts like
Franz Ferdinand, but their true stylistic forebears are
Primal Scream and, to a lesser extent,
New Order. The dance beats of singles like "Long Time Coming" and "Diet Pills and Magazines" are as huge and unapologetic as anything heard on the floor of the Hacienda during the Madchester summer, but with an added level of grit and distortion that aligns the band with what's left of the electroclash scene. The heavy beats, grinding guitars, and a certain level of punky nihilism in leader Shaun Mulrooney's vocals (think
Pete Doherty channeling Ian Curtis) give
Tremors an appealingly dark edge best heard on the churning, noisy closer, "Mass Hypnosis (Psychosis)." Highlights include the scabrous "Get Your Shit Together" and the most obviously retro tune, the dark
Stone Roses/
Charlatans groove of "I Want Silence." There's an unsettled feel to
Tremors -- hence the album title -- that suggests that this is the sort of band likely to implode at any moment, possibly with an on-stage fistfight, so enjoy
Humanzi while they're still around. ~ Stewart Mason