Incubus dabbles in a variety of styles on its first album in two years, “Light Grenades,” due Nov. 28 via Epic. The 13-track set will be led by the riffy first single “Anna Molly,” which describes a woman who may or may not exist in real life. The track will hit U.S. radio outlets in October.
Several tracks stay true to the band’s more hard rock-oriented side, particularly the gnarly lead riff and pounding, punkish pace of the two-minute title track, the overdriven chorus of “A Kiss To Send Us Off” and the punchy “Rogues,” which approximates a bizarre cross between latter-day Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ted Leo.
Beyond the hazy, effects-drenched opener “Quicksand,” the band conjures “Led Zeppelin III“-esque acoustic riffs on “Paper Shoes,” spaces out on the atmospheric “Dig,” burrows into a simple midtempo ballad on “Love Hurts” and jams out with abandon during the outtro of “Pendulous Threads.”
“Light Grenades” also includes the two-part “Earth to Bella,” one version of which divides the track list in half, the other of which closes the album.
Incubus has yet to announce tour plans in support of the project, but will perform Sept. 30 at Edgefest in Tempe, Ariz., alongside Rise Against, Jack’s Mannequin, 30 Seconds To Mars and She Wants Revenge.
Here is the track list for “Light Grenades“:
“Quicksand”
“A Kiss To Send Us Off”
“Dig”
“Anna Molly”
“Love Hurts”
“Light Grenades”
“Earth to Bella Part 1”
“Oil and Water”
“Diamonds and Coal”
“Rogues”
“Paper Shoes”
“Pendulous Threads”
“Earth to Bella Part 2”