There are some bands that sound like they’ve come to make friends. Who On Earth sound like they’ve come to make a point, and they do it with thick riffs, bruising grooves and the sort of confidence that only comes from knowing exactly who they are.
“Keep your eyes wide open,” goes the first line here, and frankly, that is decent advice. This is hard rock with a tough edge, built on the constant feeling that the band are up for the battle. That, really, is what Who On Earth have always done best. They sound like they’ve got something to prove, even when they don’t.
This is their second album, and it sees them working again with Mike Orlando of Adrenaline Mob, which makes perfect sense. There’s always been something of that band’s muscle and swagger in Who On Earth’s DNA, and on “Any Other Way” they sound like the only gang in town — or at the very least, the natural heirs to Adrenaline Mob’s crown.
There’s context here too. Jimmy Kocha joined in late 2024 as co-lead guitarist, solidifying the current line-up after the tragic loss of guitarist Bruce Gatwood, and perhaps that gives “It Takes The Village” some of its sense of defiance. It doesn’t wallow. It doesn’t stand still. It just gets on with it.
“Shadows” has a real metal edge as it laments the modern world, while “Good Man Down” finds a groove that is absolutely inescapable, not least because of some lovely twin-guitar work. “Too Close” sounds like it’s after revenge on something — anything, really — and “Double Or Nothing” underlines the point that Who On Earth are one of the finest bands doing this stuff around.
“Monster” comes in with those trademark backing vocals, and if they ever do unleash the monster then may I suggest you start worrying. “Oh, Set Me Free” is anchored down by a bass line that gives the whole thing a proper stomp, while “We Don’t Belong Here” is brilliant. If Who On Earth are ever a heartbeat away from being a thrash band, then this is one of those moments. Better still, it is utterly unrepentant: “I am glad I am” is the type of line you can build a worldview around.
The instrumentals help too. “Ascension,” like “Closer,” adds a bit of gravitas, and it leads beautifully into “The Unbeaten,” which is a lovely acoustic change of pace. The female vocals give it real depth and prove that, for all the brawn on show, Who On Earth have plenty of light and shade when they want it.
“Jane” is more mid-tempo rock to almost end the main album, but the remix of “Down And Out” is interesting too. Harsh, industrial and a little like Stabbing Westward back in the day, it brings out a different side of them. The extended mix of “Vigilance,” meanwhile, sees Mike Orlando and Jason Bittner turn up, and the song is stunning.
Who On Earth might not be a household name yet, but that almost feels beside the point. They sound like a band built for the lifers, for the ones still looking for riffs with weight, choruses with bite and music that has no interest in being polite. On this evidence, they are one of the finest bands in rock’s underground.
Rating: 8.5/10
