Incubus is a fine and innovative heavy rock band, and this new album holds more than its fair share of surprises.

And the first is the extended tangled web of electronic sounds that introduce the opening track, Megalomaniac. It’s an intense, dark song which travels the pace spectrum with a solid melodic foundation at its heart. While this has been chosen as the first single, it’s by no means the best song on offer here. Track two A Crow Left Of The Murder is more structured with lovely guitar rhythms and tumbling, razor sharp drum beats. There’s also a more expressive vocal performance from Brandon to round off one of the highlights of the album. Brandon features again on the next song, Agoraphobia which turns out to be a heady mix of jazz, rock and pop.

By track four, Talk Shows On Mute, I’m pretty well convinced that this is turning out to be one of the most diverse collection of songs I’ve heard on a rock album for several years. This song could almost be described as a slow moving ballad albeit complete some mellow guitar riffs and relentless snare drum in the background. Another contemplative, introspective song pops up next with Beware Criminal, and while it tends to ramble somewhat it leaves its mark on me. Then comes the album’s highest point with the rampant Sick Sad Little World, which is full of lovely guitar work including one formidable, uninterrupted spell that seems to go on forever.

A CROW LEFT OF THE MURDER continues its diverse rock route until the penultimate slow beauty Here In My Room and final upbeat Leech. This is an album that demands attention and a few plays to really appreciate its quality. It’s full of sonic adventure and wonderful vocals. Just occasionally one gets the feeling that the drums are trying to catch up with the other instruments and vocals, and could be down to a problem in the mixing. However, it remains an album that challenges the listener and takes Incubus to another higher level. Recommended.

4/5