EP REVIEW: Human – Anti-Clone
ANTI-CLONE have come a long way since forming in 2011. After releasing their debut EP in 2014 to critical acclaim, they followed it up in 2016 with their album The Root Of Man, which drew them further acclaim and soon saw them go on their first headline tour, spreading their sound across the UK. Unfortunately, in 2018, that all came to a stop as major line-up changes saw them go on hiatus. However, they have now returned after four years with their new EP, which is called Human.
The EP starts off with the title track. It opens with a sound bite with the line: “Why do we hate? / We hate because we are taught to hate.” Then it launches in a glorious nu-metal guitar riff. It is clear that the band have talent; the thundering instruments prove it. However, there isn’t anything special about them. With nu-metal having something of a revival in the 2020s, what makes ANTI-CLONE stand out?
On Punish Me, there is the addition of unclean vocals, which help to change things up a bit. However, the same problem remains: it doesn’t help the band stand out. In fact, this song is very reminiscent of something that SLIPKNOT would make. Of course, with SLIPKNOT being one of the definitive nu-metal bands, this is a very easy comparison to make. Interestingly, ANTI-CLONE seem to find their footing on End Of The World, which takes a more industrial rock approach. It is a slower song which affects the pacing of the EP. However, it sounds like the band are not trying to be anyone else; they are being themselves. It is a stand-out song that makes you hopeful that they’ll stick to it throughout the rest of the EP.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Spiteful is a return to nu-metal, with a little bit of metalcore thrown in for good measure. It’s not that the band don’t fit into this genre, because they do. It is the fact that they do not sound very original. It is understandable that after a four-year break from music that ANTI-CLONE are not quite steady on their feet. However, there are sparks of something more, and it is frustrating that they do not play into that more.
Furthermore, the pacing of the EP is a little scattered. It starts off really fast paced with the first two songs, but then it slumps down with the third song, before quickly picking up speed with the fourth song. It is enough to give anyone whiplash.
Overall, it is unfortunate this is ANTI-CLONE‘s first release in four years. Its pacing is uneven. Furthermore, whilst the band sound brilliant, the genre doesn’t make them stand out. The only song that they sound at home in is one where they test something new out and switch nu-metal for industrial rock. Times have changed very quickly in the past four years; genres are practically non-existent. It wouldn’t have hurt to experiment more. Instead of a fun, refreshing EP, we get a muddled identity-crisis. It is a shame that ANTI-CLONE didn’t go in the industrial rock direction; they would’ve felt more at home there.
Rating: 5/10
Human is out now via self-release.
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