Incubus
8

The eighth full-length effort by the American band Incubus, "8" arrives six years after their last (rather weak) album "If Not Now, When" and two years after the solid EP "Trust Fall (Side A)."

The work on the new album began in 2015 when the band started composing with the intention of creating a "Side B" to the mentioned EP. Brandon Boyd and company soon realized the productivity of the sessions, so the original plan was scrapped in favor of proceeding with the intent to put together a complete new album.

Dave Sardy (primarily known for producing the last two excellent studio works by Oasis) was chosen as the producer, but soon a curious opportunity arose to work with Sonny Moore, better known as Skrillex, a dubstep guru. Skrillex then began making additional tweaks to the music composed and produced until that moment, and the result is this new "8."

Musically, the work sits in a unique middle ground between two of the American band's most successful projects: "Morning View," which, with its shift towards a melodic and incisive alt-rock, made them explode on a global scale, and the dark and beautiful "A Crow Left Of The Murder," more somber and grunge-influenced.

Skrillex's work proves to be less incisive and intrusive compared to his previous collaboration with Korn on "The Path Of Totality," manifesting simply in a greater compression of sounds and less spaciousness in the band's melodies ("8" is nevertheless an album without striking singles like "Are You In?" or "Love Hurts," and that's not necessarily a bad thing).

The opener "No Fun" is a compelling grunge track built on abrasive guitars and the usual, crystal-clear vocals of Boyd, who remains in enviable form. The first excellent single "Nimble Bastard" is presented here in a different mix, more compressed and essential (Skrillex's influence is very evident, who also co-writes five tracks). The album then reveals itself to be a seesaw between more aggressive and angry pieces (the excellent second single "Glitterbomb," "Love In A Time Of Surveillance" - very early-era Audioslave) and more reflective numbers that reveal the frontman's suffering over the end of his longstanding relationship.

Among these tracks, we find the most interesting pieces: "State Of The Art" is a splendid and finely tuned ballad in full Incubus "Morning View" style, perhaps the only potential big single from "8." "Undefeated" and "Loneliest," strategically placed in the middle, represent the softer and more subdued soul of the work. "Familiar Faces" is a lively pop-rock reminiscent of the old "Black Heart Inertia," while "Make No Sound In The Digital Forest" is sinuous and expansive.

The album closes with the magnificent "Throw Out The Map," which adds richness to its structure and reaffirms, if there was still any need, Incubus' prowess in crafting rock tracks that combine recognizability and complexity without being dull.

In essence, a good comeback for the American band, which thus attempts to revitalize their sound without betraying their sonic identity, which is now fully realized.

Best track: Throw Out The Map