Only Human - Planned Obsolescence

"The concept is dystopian, but it sounds like someone daydreaming of better days."

Artist: Only Human
Album Title: Planned Obsolescence
Record Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Progressive Metal
For Fans Of:  Periphery, TesseracT, Northlane, Spiritbox
Release Date: March 27th, 2026

The band called their brand of music “existential progressive metal,” and while the lyrical themes certainly fit that description, the instrumental moods are quite uplifting. The verses are often airy and light, the vocals tender, and the choruses huge. While the commentary is scathing, it is not dread that I feel but hope. The tracks ‘Automata’ and ‘Breach’ are the only ones with any menace. That’s not to say the record isn’t heavy. It’s a bit like listening to Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall.’ The upbeat music is contrasted by dark themes. The concept is dystopian, but it sounds like someone daydreaming of better days.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

*See below for rating scale*

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another.