ALBUM REVIEW: Animalcules – Luz

‘…an astoundingly well-crafted listen that begs to be listened to again and again, partially thanks to its pure catchiness, and partially so every little detail in this densely packed record can be uncovered and digested…’

Heralding from Glasgow, Animalcules arrived on the scene back in 2023, when they released their debut single, ‘Pseudo Non-Fiction’. One more release would follow up in the form of the single ‘Flavour Town’, but until January of this year, that would remain all we would hear from this band.

For the progressive emo band, ‘Luz’ represents not only their debut record, but only their third release whatsoever. It’s a bold move, skipping out on budget and algorithm friendly singles and EPs in favour of a full-length record, but after seeing what Animalcules have to offer, it’s impossible to deny that it is also the correct move.

It is frankly a little absurd that ‘Luz’ is the debut LP of Animalcules. What the band accomplish across this record’s thirty minute runtime puts some of the stalwarts of the progressive emo and post-hardcore scene to shame; this is a tremendously enjoyable and enchantingly creative listen from start to finish, possessing absolutely no low points.

From the moment this record commences, Animalcules make it clear that they’re here to get you moving. ‘Flavour Town’ is packed with jazzy, noodling riffs layered over buoyant rhythms, all delivered with a delightful balance of technical complexity and pure catchiness. A brisk breakdown in the back half is certain to appeal to those who like their emo a little on the punkier side, with the slick vocals giving way to surprisingly ferocious screams.

Part of what keeps the record flowing so perfectly is how the band thread each track together with outros and intros; ‘Flavour Town’ floats effortlessly into ‘PureJim’ on a blanket on birdsong, perfectly setting up the twinkling maximalism of the track. Moments of chiptune sparkle dance around the math-rock core, as the band conjure up the sound of musical sunshine. A brief interlude number in the form of ‘Lucky’ continues to keep each track feeling interconnected.

‘Wanderlust’ offers a fantastic highlight at the album’s midpoint, with its playfully chaotic rhythmic switch-ups and clear emo flair. The infectious melodies and brilliantly bittersweet lyricism carry a distinct youthful nostalgia within their character, taking you back to times that were both better and worse. The band’s extension of these melodies and musical ideas on the brief ‘Interlude’ truly rounds out the album’s first half perfectly.

A focus on danceable groove certainly permeates most of this record, but the band are always ready to offer moments of surprising emotive weight and depth, such as with the soaring ‘Pseudo Non-Fiction’, with its immense vocals and driving guitar solo, and the gently bouncing ‘Midnorth’, with the vocals taking on a subtly dreamy quality against instrumentals buoyed by a slick yet understated groove.

‘Bugs’ is a shimmering experimental number with a stripped-back instrumental line-up embossed with twinkling, maximalist electronics, whilst ‘Let’s Party!’ brings back that clear focus on getting the listener moving, with an over-the-top delivery and ridiculous sense of groove that snags the listener and commands that they dance. It makes for a brilliant contrast with the sweeping closer that is ‘Minimal Brain Damage’, which ends the album with its most captivating performance, packed with ensemble vocals and moments of metalcore tinged heaviness.

‘Luz’ is a record that any band would be proud to have made at any point in their careers, let alone as their debut record. What Animalcules have created is an astoundingly well-crafted listen that begs to be listened to again and again, partially thanks to its pure catchiness, and partially so every little detail in this densely packed record can be uncovered and digested.

Animalcules are a band that make you feel excited to listen to them. ‘Luz’ not simply an album you merely like, or an album you think is just good. It is an album that invites you to become wholly obsessed with it; a magical must-listen album from a band at the very start of what could be a blindingly bright career.

RATING: 92/100 – Excellent

For Fans Of: pulses., The Home Team, With Sails Ahead, Closure In Moscow, Topiary Creatures

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify