Puny Human
It’s Not The Heat, It’s The Humanity
Small Stone
This is pretty intense trailer park rawk from a band that’s got a lot of things going for it: a cool name (ripped from The Hulk), a great album title and a semi-celeb behind the drum kit (Iann Robinson from MTV News, of all people). Taking their cue from their 2001 debut Revenge is Easy, Puny Human have increased the dosage of heavy tunefulness, and come across as an ever more unique voice in the look-alike contest that is the current stoner scene. With White Zombie’s J. Yuenger producing, and with influences ranging from classic Sabbath to Fu Manchu and Alabama Thunderpussy, you should have a pretty clear idea of what to expect on here. But no amount of lazy references will prepare you for the crunchy “The Toos,” the inbred stomp of “The Ox,” or the great, slow, devouring “Devil’s Riff.” The album’s last half, however, tends to disappear a bit in less inspired moments of formulaic stoner riffage and genre groping (check “Even Now We Are Preparing To Love You,” which has nothing going for it except a great title). Regardless, Puny Human are starting to sound more like a vital and strong band, establishing their own voices in the overcrowded world of stoner rawk, making this one of the more interesting new releases on an otherwise stale scene.
Small Stone Records: http://www.smallstone.com/
