More Humans

Demon Station...will surely convert those who mistakenly believe angular rhythms and petulant guitar work served up in fits and starts no longer carries the weight that our fickle public demands. No, dear reader, this band plays for keeps, and if you’re ever lucky enough the see them live, you’ll know that these tunes will translate perfectly to the caustic arena of Pabst-pounding sweat and bloated bar tabs. (Pittsburgh Magazine) _______________________ Demon Station’s five songs are an unexpected and ambitious departure. Elegant tracks like “Dracula” recall the Zombies with more aggressive and intricate percussion (and without the organ). The driving emo of “Mason-Dixon” is led by those gorgeous, almost aristocratic indie vocal arrangements that make you think of Rough Trade Records. “Icicles” big-ups the ‘70s radio rock you hear in snippets during infomercials about ballad compilations. More Humans’ influences and complementary pieces feel easy to cite, but their sparkplug songwriting prevails. (Washington City Paper) _______________________ There are plenty of pop moments on "Demon Station," an invigorating five-song EP by locals More Humans. Many come when members of the trio combine for sparkling vocal harmonies. But instead of hearing the usual "ooh oohs" or "yeah yeahs," you'll get a phrase such as "Welcome to the Childhood Home of Andy Warhol and Dan Marino." And that's not just a lyric - it's a chorus. That balancing act defines "Demon Station," which presents a band that plays rock music with a sense of purpose and precision. Songs are jolting one moment and pretty the next, filled with twists and turns that add and release tension but never become a distraction...Even though it's only 14 minutes, the EP is packed with enough personality that you feel as if you really get to know More Humans and you quickly want to know them even better. (Washington Post) _______________________ That More Humans writes chugging riffs and sometimes sings in twangy close harmony is a sure sign it’s playing with a certain strain of road-warrior rock, but CCR 8.0 this is not; there are weird countermelodies, backward-sounding beats, and humorous lyrics about creepy situations. In one song, Pittsburgh is “the childhood home of Andy Warhol and Dan Marino.” In another, there’s something in Dracula’s blood. In “Mason-Dixon,” the band packs up a vehicle to cross that imaginary barrier between North and South, but encounters with familiar ghosts prove boring. It’s not worn-down—this isn’t “Turn the Page”—but just bored, and soon enough the band is on to its next eccentric, observational riff. (Washington City Paper) _______________________ The trio...has an immediacy to them, whether by virtue of their stunning vocal harmonies or guitars that can crunch as well as they can quietly soar.(DCist) _______________________ Massive pop hooks, harmonies as odd as vintage XTC, whisper-to-scream dynamics, crushing guitars, and...haunting vocals. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) _______________________ Their anthem "Welcome to the Childhood Home of Andy Warhol and Dan Marino" kills, in a kinda Big Star way. (Pittsburgh City Paper) _______________________ It's really fucking great when a band isn't afraid to be ridiculous and ambitious. It sure beats the alternative. (Splendid) We're an American band.