Incubus - If Not Now, When?
- Jul 25, 2011
After five years in the wilderness, Incubus are back and the American quintet behind such hits as 'Drive' and 'Megalomaniac' have well and truly reinvented themselves. Originally lumped in the nu-metal category after their brash and inventive sophomore album 'S.C.I.E.N.C.E.' brought them into the limelight, Brandon Boyd and co. have never been a band to stand still, reaching their peak in 2001 with the sun-kissed, laid-back vibes of 'Morning View'. After two moderately successful records in the mid noughties, 'If Not Now, When?' can be seen as the band coming full circle and once again focusing on subtle and charming sounds, rather than rap-rock showiness.
Such is the stripped back sound on their latest record that it's hard to recognise Incubus as a guitar band from the first few tracks, with the echoey bass-driven title track kicking things off in a reflective mood and Boyd's acrobatic pop vocals being the primary focus. Recent single 'Promises, Promises' is a more traditional soft rock tune, complete with jangling piano and offbeat guitars softly strummed in the background.
Anyone worried that this sounds a bit too Coldplay will be reassured by the seven-minute epic 'In The Company Of Wolves', which is divided into two distinct but intertwined sections, the latter showcasing a smouldering and sultry sound that is more reminiscent of The Cure at their most brooding, as Boyd dwells on the haunting and suggestive phrase "it was the longest night of my life".
Lead guitarist Mike Einziger, fresh from studying music composition at Harvard, finally gets a chance to show off his trademark licks on the reverb-laden 'Thieves and The Origina'l, which gently builds towards a searing crescendo. His input results in a few classic rock tinges, touching on The Police and latter-day Led Zeppelin.
Old-school fans will feel more at home with the late brace of '' Switchblade' followed by the lead-off single 'Adolescents', which bring the guitars back to the fore, with the former brandishing a distinctly punk-rock swagger.
Perhaps significantly, Incubus choose to end out the album with the ponderous 'Tomorrow's Food', which brings the album back to its contemplative beginnings. If Not Now, When? marks a brave, bold new direction for the Californian songsmiths and on the basis of these 11 remarkably assured tracks, they're showing no signs of turning back.
7/10
Chris Jefferies
