Band:	Incubus (US-CA)
Album:	Light Grenades
Style:	Alternative metal, Rock
Release date:	November 2006

01. Quicksand
02. A Kiss To Send Us Off
03. Dig
04. Anna-Molly
05. Love Hurts
06. Light Grenades
07. Earth To Bella (Part I)
08. Oil And Water
09. Diamonds And Coal
10. Rogues
11. Paper Shoes
12. Pendulous Threads
13. Earth To Bella (Part II)

There should be no argument that California's Incubus at least started as a metal band (albeit rooted firmly in alt. metal territories occupied by Faith No More) and although they did have their brief stint as a commercially viable mainstream rock band, their music is still overall heavy enough to warrant a review here on Metal Storm. If the above is not incentive enough then the quality of Light Grenades should definitely be, since it is quite a successful development of the band's style and a respectable musical achievement in its own right.

Heaviness and aggression already returned to Incubus' repertoire on their previous effort, the quite excellent A Crow Left Of The Murder and it is still here to stay on Light Grenades. With this said, the album is still very varied and contains many surprises. Actually, therein also lies the only problem I have with this record - it seems to ape Faith No More (circa say Album Of The Year) up to a fault, with the second track even containing unmistakably Patton-esque vocals and refrains. Still, once we get over this small problem (after all, in other genres bands copy each other's styles all the time) we can truly appreciate the genius that Incubus definitely displays on this album. Besides, if "A Kiss To Send Us Off" were indeed a Faith No More song, it would be among that band's greatest hits?

Other highlights of Light Grenades include the blistering, almost thrashy title song and the passable r'n'b-meets-rock of "Dig". "Diamonds And Coal" will have you singing along with the excellent refrain and "Rogues" will startle you with its immediate aggression and funk finesse. By far my favorite track on the album is "Pendulous Threads" though since its shouted refrain is simply unavoidable and supremely catchy. The whole album is full of all kinds of hooks and impressive moments.

Incubus has definitely grown since their first album. They are definitely one of the most interesting bands of the current mainstream rock scene and this album is highly recommended to anyone who calls themselves a fan of Faith No More, alternative and funk metal, or just good music in general.