Release Date March 27th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Existential Prog Metal
Origin Denmark
Only Human began as a duo in 2022 before expanding into the five-piece machine they are today. Emerging from Copenhagen, these guys took their time to find the right parts, adding extra guitar players to make sure their sound had enough layers to actually sound like the future they’re obsessed with. Signed to Season Of Mist right at the start of 2026, they’ve managed to skip the usual basement circuit and land straight on major festival stages. They clearly spent their time in the shed perfecting a specific mix of old-school heavy vibes and that modern, clinical tech sound that’s been taking over the scene lately.
Most prog bands these days are just trying to out-math each other until the music sounds like a broken calculator. Only Human actually puts some soul into the circuits on "Planned Obsolescence". It’s got that low-tuned bounce that makes you want to move, but there’s a cold, digital atmosphere hanging over everything that makes it feel a bit more dangerous than your average djent clone. The production is handled entirely by the vocalist, and honestly, he did a better job than half the big-name pros out there. It sounds huge, hitting you with those mechanical rhythms and then drifting into these wide, soaring melodies that actually stick in your head.
The musicianship is top-tier without being annoying about it. You can hear the influence of the big dogs like TesseracT and Periphery, especially in how they use the bass to glue those odd-time grooves together. "Techno Fascist" is a perfect example of how they operate, starting with these weird electronic pulses before the guitars come in and flatten everything. The vocals go from these desperate, melodic hooks to some seriously heavy moments that fit the whole "world-is-ending" vibe they’re going for. It’s a debut, but it sounds like they’ve been playing together since the first Matrix movie came out.
There are moments on "Planned Obsolescence" where things get a little too comfortable in the mid-tempo range, and I would’ve liked to see them go for the throat a bit more often. Sometimes the atmosphere gets so thick that the riffs lose their edge for a second, but they usually find their way back to a massive groove before you lose interest. "Steep Descent" has a killer solo that proves these guys aren't just about the chugs; they actually have the chops to play some proper lead lines when the song calls for it. It’s a smart record that doesn't treat the listener like an idiot.
This is a hell of a start for a band that just showed up. Only Human has managed to take a bunch of different influences, from 90s industrial vibes to modern prog, and smash them into something that sounds like it belongs in 2026. "Breach" finishes things off with a massive, terminal feeling that leaves you wanting more. If you’re tired of the same old "all flash and no substance" prog, this is worth your time. It’s heavy, it’s thoughtful, and it sounds like the soundtrack to a civilization finally realizing its phone is spying on it.
Damage done @: 7.5
Add comment
Comments