When Afrobeat meets riff-heavy rock

Los Angeles born and raised, Here Lies Man, or sometimes referred to as “Man” by close fans, has given life to their third album, No Ground To Walk Upon. Via Squarespace, the band posed the question, “what if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?” It is a question that has influenced their past releases as well as their newest. This fuzz-rock band composed of members like Marcos Garcia and drummer Geoff Mann, from Afropunk band Antibalas, have produced something definitely unlike anything heard in rock music before.

With a ton of psychedelic influences and riff-heavy sounds, the band takes you on an introspective journey to what rock music can be when mixed with some alternative sounds, drum beats and jazz influences. Aiming in their focus on the mix of rhythm and riffs, Man produces something original, although a bit anticlimactic at times. It’s like listening to something intriguing and then getting super excited for a switch-up or guitar solo—but never actually getting what you hoped for. 

“Iron Rattles” is one of the songs that gets close to what the band has produced in the past as well as what they promised listeners. With a vague, yet riff-heavy melody, this song, along with many others, strays away from the classic rock ideals.

Another album favorite, “Man Falls Down” contains some good beats and rhythms that finally allow listeners to hear the Afropunk influence. They even incorporate a switch-up, although it does backtrack to familiar sounds heard earlier and throughout the album. Despite being a bit underwhelming at times, Here Lies Man’s third album, No Ground To Walk Upon, is an original with an eclectic mix of influences that drives unusual and psychedelic sounds.