Posthuman (Harm's Way album)

Last updated
Posthuman
Harm's Way - Posthuman.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 9, 2018 (2018-02-09)
RecordedAugust 2017
StudioGraphic Nature Audio
(Belleville, New Jersey)
Genre
Length33:57
Label Metal Blade
Producer Will Putney
Harm's Way chronology
Rust
(2015)
Posthuman
(2018)
Common Suffering
(2023)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim! 8/10 [2]
Metal Injection8/10 [3]
Pitchfork 6.8/10.0 [4]

Posthuman is the fourth studio album by the American hardcore band Harm's Way. The album was released on February 9, 2018 and marked the band's first release through Metal Blade Records. [5] Vocalist James Pligge says the album is influenced to a smaller extent by Slipknot, but to a larger extent Triptykon and Machine Head. [6] Harm's Way promoted the album with music videos for "Become a Machine" [7] and "Last Man", [8] and online streams of "Human Carrying Capacity" and "Call My Name". [9]

Contents

Critics generally gave Posthuman favorable reviews, with several reviewers noticing an increased emphasis on industrial metal and nu metal over previous releases. [2] [3] [4] [10] In Andy O'Connor's review for Pitchfork, he wrote about what he perceived to be the album's influences, stating: "While still a hardcore record, Posthuman does tip the balance towards Rust's industrial flirtations. 'Temptation' takes Godflesh's rumbling, mechanical bass and sets it to a slinking Jesus Lizard groove, then charts a course that resembles if Deftones went further in on their dream pop influences." [4] Joe Smith-Engelhardt of Exclaim! described the album as a standout in the recent trend of bands blending nu metal and hardcore, elaborating: "In the last few years, a substantial number of hardcore acts have been adopting nu metal influences with mixed results, but Harm's Way have managed to tastefully incorporate a groove element into their music. Songs such as 'Unreality' and 'Dissect Me' intertwine classic nu metal elements with hardcore while avoiding sounding gimmicky or nostalgic." [2]

The publications Exclaim! and Revolver named it one of 2018's best metal and hardcore albums. [11] [12]

Track listing

  1. "Human Carrying Capacity" – 3:18
  2. "Last Man" – 1:59
  3. "Sink" – 3:12
  4. "Temptation" – 3:54
  5. "Become a Machine" – 3:12
  6. "Call My Name" – 4:23
  7. "Unreality" – 2:26
  8. "Dissect Me" – 4:19
  9. "The Gift" – 2:28
  10. "Dead Space" – 4:46

Personnel

Posthuman personnel adapted from CD liner notes.

Harm's Way

Additional musicians

Production and artwork

Related Research Articles

Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming; more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However, the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.

<i>Pure</i> (Godflesh album) 1992 studio album by Godflesh

Pure is the second studio album by English industrial metal band Godflesh. It was released on 13 April 1992 through Earache Records. Though originally labeled only as industrial metal, the album has since been recognised as one of the earliest post-metal releases. Musically, Pure is rhythmically mechanical and features harsh guitars, with protracted songs and an abundance of deliberate repetition. Like much of Godflesh's music, it is regarded as particularly heavy and aggressive, and these elements helped it gain critical acclaim.

<i>Hymns</i> (Godflesh album) 2001 studio album by Godflesh

Hymns is the sixth studio album by English industrial metal band Godflesh. It was released on 23 October 2001 through Music for Nations and was the band's final album before breaking up in 2002. In 2010, Godflesh reformed and in 2014 released their comeback album A World Lit Only by Fire. Hymns had a troubled production and was intended to be distinct departure from Godflesh's intensely regimented industrial sound to something more traditionally hard rock. It was the band's second and final album to feature a live drummer rather than a drum machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Code Orange (band)</span> American metalcore band

Code Orange is an American metalcore band that formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2008, while the members of the band were still in high school.

Harm's Way is an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2006. The band started as a side project, but ended up becoming a more serious and full-time band in their later years. Harm's Way has since released four studio albums: Reality Approaches (2009), Isolation (2011) and Rust (2015) and several EPs. On February 9, 2018, the band released their critically acclaimed Metal Blade Records debut, titled Posthuman. They have been recognized for their unique blend of metal, industrial, and hardcore music.

<i>Rust</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Harms Way

Rust is the third studio album by the American hardcore band Harm's Way. Released on March 10, 2015 through Deathwish Inc., Rust—like the preceding EP, Blinded—was produced by Andy Nelson of the powerviolence band Weekend Nachos. The album was sonically influenced by Godflesh, Helmet and Celtic Frost, and Harm's Way promoted its release with a stream for "Law of the Land" and music videos for "Amongst the Rust" and "Left to Disintegrate."

Nu metalcore is a fusion genre that combines elements of nu metal and metalcore. The genre often makes use of a combination of screamed and sung vocals, in addition to breakdowns, hip hop-influenced drum beats and electronic music elements.

<i>Forever</i> (Code Orange album) 2017 studio album by Code Orange

Forever is the third studio album by the American hardcore punk band Code Orange and its first on a major label, Roadrunner Records, following a stint on the indie label Deathwish Inc. It was released on January 13, 2017.

<i>The Dusk in Us</i> 2017 studio album by Converge

The Dusk in Us is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on November 3, 2017, via Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc, and is the band's first studio album in five years since 2012's All We Love We Leave Behind. The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou and the artwork was created by the band's singer Jacob Bannon.

<i>Nothing Is Free</i> 2015 EP by JK Flesh

Nothing Is Free is the debut EP of JK Flesh, a pseudonym of English musician Justin Broadrick, and was self-released digitally by Avalanche Recordings on a pay what you want basis on 7 September 2015. It is Broadrick's third release under the JK Flesh title, following the debut studio album, Posthuman (2012), and a split album with Prurient, Worship Is the Cleansing of the Imagination (2012).

<i>Post Self</i> 2017 studio album by Godflesh

Post Self is the eighth studio album by English industrial metal band Godflesh. It was released on 17 November 2017 through frontman Justin Broadrick's own record label, Avalanche Recordings, and was the band's second album since reforming in 2010. The single "Post Self" was released for streaming on 31 October 2017, and a second track, "Be God", was released for streaming on 11 November 2017, six days in advance of the full release. Godflesh avoided interviews in the wake of Post Self, hoping to retain some of the album's purity and give listeners a chance to digest the music in a vacuum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post Self (song)</span> 2017 song by Godflesh

"Post Self" is a song by English industrial metal band Godflesh, taken from their 2017 album of the same name. It was released ahead of Post Self on 31 October 2017 through frontman Justin Broadrick's own label, Avalanche Recordings, as a digital download.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vein.fm</span> American metalcore band

Vein.fm is an American metalcore band from Boston that formed in 2013. They are known for their frequent tours and have performed shows with groups such as Code Orange and Twitching Tongues while in Europe. In 2017 the band was signed onto Closed Casket Activities, who would issue their first full-length work Errorzone to positive reception among critics, even appearing on Revolver's early "Best Albums of 2018" list. The album also managed to peak at number 21 on Billboard's Hard Rock album chart. In July 2020, after the release of their remix album, the band announced it changed its name to Vein.fm.

<i>Errorzone</i> 2018 studio album by Vein

Errorzone is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Vein, which was released on June 22, 2018, through Closed Casket Activities. Noted by critics for taking influence from nu metal, mathcore, and screamo, the album has gained praise for its genre-bending style. To promote the record, music videos were produced for the tracks "Virus://Vibrance" and "Demise Automation". The album peaked at number 21 on the hard rock Billboard chart within its first week of release.

<i>Unloved</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Frontierer

Unloved is the second studio album by Scottish band Frontierer. On 27 July 2018, it was released independently through the group's Bandcamp account. The album drew critical attention for its harshness and unrelenting tone. Unloved was preceded by the digital singles titled, "Tumoric" and "Glitcher" in May and June respectively.

<i>Weeping Choir</i> 2019 studio album by Full of Hell

Weeping Choir is the seventh studio album by the American grindcore band Full of Hell. The album was released on May 17, 2019 and serves as the band's debut release through Relapse Records. Weeping Choir was engineered by Kurt Ballou of Converge, who previously produced Full of Hell's 2017 studio album Trumpeting Ecstasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher Power (band)</span> English hardcore punk band

Higher Power are an English hardcore punk band formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire in 2014. They have released two full-length studio albums, one EP, one live album and one demo. Their second album, 27 Miles Underwater, was their major label debut through Roadrunner Records. In a 2020 poll by Revolver magazine, they were voted the most likely contemporary band to breakthrough into the mainstream. They are a part of the New Wave of British Hardcore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twitching Tongues</span> American metal band

Twitching Tongues is an American heavy metal band from California, founded in 2009. The band has released four albums: Sleep Therapy in 2012, In Love There Is No Law in 2013, Disharmony in 2015, and Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred in 2018. They have also released two EPs – 2011's I & I and 2012's Preacher Man.

Orthodox is a metalcore band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2011. The lineup consists of lead vocalist Adam Easterling, guitarist Austin Evans, bass guitarist Shiloh Krebs, and drummer Mike White. They released their first studio album End Of My Wit in 2013 and followed up the next year in 2014 with their extended play Give Me A Reason, both on Clear Minded Records. In 2015, the band released a split EP with Michigan hardcore band Breaking Wheel. They then signed to Unbeaten Records, releasing their sophomore studio album Sounds of Loss in 2017 and third studio album Let It Take Its Course in 2020. They are currently signed to Century Media Records, and have released the single 'Body and Soul' on October 15, 2021, fourth studio album Learning to Dissolve on August 19, 2022, and follow-up single 'Soaking Nerves' on June 26, 2023. They have toured with bands such as Spite, The Acacia Strain, Varials, Harm's Way, Kublai Khan TX, and Stick to Your Guns.

References

  1. Pementel, Michael (7 February 2018). "Album Review: HARM'S WAY Posthuman". Metal Injection. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (February 5, 2018). "Harm's Way – Posthuman". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Pemental, Michael (February 7, 2018). "Album Review: Harm's Way Posthuman". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Connor, Andy (February 10, 2018). "Harm's Way: Posthuman Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  5. Kennelty, Greg (December 7, 2017). "Harm's Way's New Song 'Human Carrying Capacity' Will Force You To Punch Everything". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  6. Bellino, Vince (February 9, 2018). "Beyond Human: Harm's Way Continue to Evolve on 'Posthuman'". Decibel . Red Flag Media. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  7. Camp, Zoe (February 7, 2018). "See Man Suffer Technology-Induced Breakdown in Harm's Way Disturbing New Video". Revolver . Project M Group. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  8. Camp, Zoe (May 22, 2018). "See Harm's Way Deliver Glitched-Out Performance in New 'Last Man' Video". Revolver . Project M Group. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  9. Camp, Zoe (January 16, 2018). "Hear Harm's Way Channel Godflesh on Punishing New Song 'Call My Name'". Revolver . Project M Group. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  10. Cimarusti, Luca (March 16, 2018). "With Posthuman Harm's Way deliver one of the scariest, heaviest records you'll hear this year". Chicago Reader . Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  11. Exclaim! Staff (December 7, 2018). "Exclaim!'s Top 10 Metal and Hardcore Albums". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  12. Revolver Staff (November 26, 2018). "30 Best Albums of 2018". Revolver . Project M Group. Retrieved April 17, 2019.