Human Impact is the NYC noise rock supergroup from Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop & Swans members

Let’s keep it simple: Human Impact is Chris Spencer from Unsane on guitar and vocals, drummer Phil Puleo of Cop Shoot Cop and Swans, Puleo’s Swans bandmate bassist Christopher Pravdica, and another ex-Cop Shoot Cop-per Jim Coleman on electronics.

Human Impact. Photo via Ipecac Recordings.

This first single, “November” comes off as a dirge for empathy and truly sounds like a collaboration between all members.

The Puleo/Pravdica rhythm section is a big part of what makes the last decade of Swans records so compelling—no matter how quiet or avant-garde a statement that Michael Gira was making, these guys kept it moving  in a way that makes the records repeat listens as opposed to “an experience” (pretend I said that in a REAL SERIOUS GUY voice) that is cool but not something I want to hear again (like, um, early Swans).

Spencer’s guitar is largely buried in the mix so that the big story here is the melody of his voice and Coleman’s keyboards. When the guitars do become more present its less the big, bluesy riffs of Unsane and more of a minimalist Jesus Lizard-style that’s perfectly suited for what Puleo and Pravdica are doing.

I know we’re only 16 days into this year but I’m thinking Human Impact will be my favorite album this year.

Listen to November now and pre-order the album here.