ONLY HUMAN are fresh to the prog space, but the Danish upstarts have already made a major discovery with their inventive debut album. While fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence is built to last well into the future with its cutting-edge fusion of prog metal, hard rock and electronic soundscapes.

“Combining the two recent prog micro-genres (post-Tool and post-Periphery/TesseracT) with a clear love of various electronic styles, Planned Obsolescence actually sounds like it was designed to last”, New Noise writes. “The riffs never overpower, the rhythms feel soothing and buoyant, and vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen employs his impressive range in a way that compliments rather than contrasts with the music. In short, this is prog for those who also like brevity”.

“This was an outstanding Progressive album”, Metal Temple writes in a 9/10 review, “and in many ways, it might point towards where the genre is headed for the future”.

Now, as they prepare to bring Planned Obsolescence to life at Sweden Rock Festival and other European stages, today, ONLY HUMAN are releasing a new performance video for the album’s most hopeful song. Sparked by the band’s creative synergy, “Steep Descent” stakes their claim as a vital new force that’s shaping prog metal’s future.  

“‘Steep Descent’ is an invitation to stare the universe in the eyes and demand meaning and purpose even when faced with assured destruction”, ONLY HUMAN vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “From the perspective of the cosmos, we are small but not so insignificant, so long as we choose not to be. We may have been granted the flame of existence, but it’s up to us to keep it alive”.

The performance video for “Steep Descent” was edited by Guillaume Blanjean and mixed and mastered by  Patrick Grønbæch Christensen.

Planned Obsolescence is out now on Season of Mist. Order & Stream: https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

On their debut album, ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future mirrors our approaching dystopia. Much like the improvements promised by emerging technologies, “Steep Descent” dazzles with complex drum patterns and sleek bass grooves before the chorus crashes under heavy down-tuned riffs. But while wrestling with technocracy’s increasingly hostile takeover, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, the band’s multi-system command is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge.

“Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying synth melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel them into the next stratosphere.

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026
May 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show)
June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
August 27-29 – Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest
September 5 – Grindsted, DK @ Metalbox Festival
November 7 – Hjortshoj, DK @ Viruphuset (with Cold Night for Alligators)

Tracklist
1. Drift (4:44)
2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54)
3. Steep Descent (5:56)
4. Death Cult (3:40)
5. Techno Fascist (6:01) [WATCH]
6. Automata (6:12) [WATCH]
7. Aspire (4:22)
8. Breach (5:41) [WATCH]

Full runtime: 40:32

Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.

All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.

ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals
Martin Hastrup – Guitars
JaCK Kijne – Guitars
Andreas Pröll – Drums
Guillaume Blanjean – Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio
Only Human Studio

Production Credits
Producer & Sound Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art
Guillaume Blanjean

Follow Only Human
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk

ONLY HUMAN are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. On Planned Obsolescence, the Danish upstarts invent an existential form of prog metal that speaks to our not-too-distant dystopia.

“Combining the two recent prog micro-genres (post-Tool and post-Periphery/TesseracT) with a clear love of various electronic styles, Planned Obsolescence actually sounds like it was designed to last”, New Noise writes. “The riffs never overpower, the rhythms feel soothing and buoyant, and vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen employs his impressive range in a way that compliments rather than contrasts with the music. In short, this is prog for those who also like brevity”.

“The verses are often airy and light, the vocals tender, and the choruses huge”, says Heavy Metal Philosophy. “While the commentary is scathing, it is not dread that I feel but hope”.

Planned Obsolescence was released yesterday, on March 27 on Season of Mist, and you can hear all eight inventive songs by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, Only Human vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

Order the album here: https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Concept albums are standard issue for metal, especially in the prog space. But when the five members of Only Human first put their heads together in 2023, they decided to build the very human fabric of the band around one increasingly prescient idea.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.  

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. “Techno Fascist” comes crashing down amidst a turbulent downstream of low-tuned chugs. The intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic swirls into the heavy mainframe of “Breach” mirrors not only how technology has seeped into our everyday lives but also the looming threat that it poses in rendering humans obsolete.  

While Planned Obsolescence is full of existential dread, that doesn’t mean the album leaves us no hope. There’s nothing broken or even outdated about Only Human. The band’s fusion of heavy polyrhythmic grooves, anthemic hard rock and haunting electronic soundscapes hits like a deep breath of fresh air. “Defy and learn to walk again”, commands blood-pumping lead single “Automata”.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

On Planned Obsolescence, Only Human invent existential prog metal for our dystopian future.  

Tracklist
1. Drift (4:44)
2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54)
3. Steep Descent (5:56)
4. Death Cult (3:40)
5. Techno Fascist (6:01) [WATCH]
6. Automata (6:12) [WATCH]
7. Aspire (4:22)
8. Breach (5:41) [WATCH]

Full runtime: 40:32

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026
May 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show)
June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
August 27-29 – Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest
September 5 – Grindsted, DK @ Metalbox Festival
November 7 – Hjortshoj, DK @ Viruphuset (with Cold Night for Alligators)

Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.

All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.

ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals
Martin Hastrup – Guitars
JaCK Kijne – Guitars
Andreas Pröll – Drums
Guillaume Blanjean – Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio
Only Human Studio

Production Credits
Producer & Sound Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art
Guillaume Blanjean

Follow Only Human
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk

While fresh to the prog space, ONLY HUMAN are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. On Planned Obsolescence, the Danish upstarts invent an existential form of prog metal that speaks to our not-too-distant dystopia.

“[…] an outstanding progressive album, and in many ways, it might point towards where the genre is headed for the future”, Metal Temple writes in an early 9/10 review of Planned Obsolescence.

Today, ONLY HUMAN are releasing the third and final advanced single from Planned Obsolescence. “Techno Fascist” confronts the forces corrupting our society with the band’s cutting-edge fusion of prog, classic rock and modern metal.

“At the core of ‘Techno Fascist’ is a confrontation with the privatized technocratic establishments of today”, Only Human vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “The song questions the acceptance of disruptive technology as an inevitability while also asserting that we all have a choice in whether we want to risk losing our humanity to a soulless system that guides our every move”.

Planned Obsolescence comes out March 27, 2026 on Season of Mist. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Concept albums are standard entries in metal’s vaunted archives. But few bands are hardwired around a core idea.  “We like a lot of bands that just play rock music”, Christensen explains, ”but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model”, Christensen explains. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” goes undetected at first. Electronics glisten like a dream of utopia before the song comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.  

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, Christensen says. “Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

ONLY HUMAN arrive with a bleak vision for our future. While ushered in by an enchanting keyboard, “Techno Fascist” culminates with a breakdown that’s truly crushing. “Cut from the cord, you’re obsolete”, Christensen warns with fearsome growls. But while Planned Obsolescence is fueled by existential dread, the band’s inventive approach proves there’s still hope. By toggling between headbanging riffs,  an eye-opening solo, soothing cleans and prog’s synthetic folds, they repeatedly find new ways to break the system.    

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Tracklist
1. Drift (4:44)
2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54)
3. Steep Descent (5:56)
4. Death Cult (3:40)
5. Techno Fascist (6:01) [WATCH]
6. Automata (6:12) [WATCH]
7. Aspire (4:22)
8. Breach (5:41) [WATCH]

Full runtime: 40:32

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026
May 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show)
June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
August 27-29 – Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest
September 5 – Grindsted, DK @ Metalbox Festival
November 7 – Hjortshoj, DK @ Viruphuset (with Cold Night for Alligators)

Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.

All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.

ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals
Martin Hastrup – Guitars
JaCK Kijne – Guitars
Andreas Pröll – Drums
Guillaume Blanjean – Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio
Only Human Studio

Production Credits
Producer & Sound Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art
Guillaume Blanjean

Follow Only Human
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk

ONLY HUMAN are fresh to the prog space. But the Danish upstarts are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. Planned Obsolescence invents an existential form of prog metal that speaks to our not-too-distant dystopia.

“[…] an outstanding progressive album, and in many ways, it might point towards where the genre is headed for the future”, Metal Temple writes in an early 9/10 review of Planned Obsolescence.

Today, ONLY HUMAN are releasing the second advanced single from Planned Obsolescence. “Breach” is pushed past the brink of our existence by despair, but the band’s cutting-edge fusion emerges like a beacon of hope.

“‘This is a brooding song”, the band’s vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “It’s a lament for how we’ve let cynicism take a permanent hold and lead us past the point of no return”.

Watch the lyric video for “Breach”:

The lyric video for “Breach” was created by Tamara Llenas of Aimed & Framed.

Planned Obsolescence comes out March 27, 2026 on Season of Mist. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Concept albums are standard entries in metal’s archives. But when the five members of ONLY HUMAN came together after connecting online and IRL over everything from The Matrix to Bring Me The Horizon, they wired the band’s framework around one prevailing idea.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, says Christensen, who also produced, mixed and mastered Planned Obsolescence. “This album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society. We now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

While the first single from Planned Obsolescence cautioned against technology automating our every waking decision, “Breach” raises the alarm to a full-on blast. Scrambled electronics, dissonant guitars and pulse-pounding drums blare over the speakers, warning those asleep at the wheels of society that now is the time to hit eject. “Aimless in the midst of disaster” , Christensen screams in terror, as if preparing for the impact of our inevitable collapse.

“Self-destructive tendencies are a natural force in the world”, Christensen says, “but it’s our own choices and weaknesses that ultimately will them into existence”.

Planned Obsolescence presents a vision for the future that’s far beyond sunshine and rainbows. “Breach” ends the album not on the verge of apocalypse but spiraling into the void amidst soul-crushing riffs. Even the glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, ONLY HUMAN arrive as a beacon of hope. “Do you feel what I feel?”. In the age of artificial intelligence, the band’s combination of prog, djent, hard rock and electronics isn’t just meaningful but vital.

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026
May 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show)
June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
August 27-29 – Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest

Tracklist
1. Drift (4:44)
2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54)
3. Steep Descent (5:56)
4. Death Cult (3:40)
5. Techno Fascist (6:01)
6. Automata (6:12) [WATCH]
7. Aspire (4:22)
8. Breach (5:41) [WATCH]

Full runtime: 40:32

Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.

All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.

ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals
Martin Hastrup – Guitars
JaCK Kijne – Guitars
Andreas Pröll – Drums
Guillaume Blanjean – Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio
Only Human Studio

Production Credits
Producer & Sound Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art
Guillaume Blanjean

Follow Only Human
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk

No matter the day and age, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene having now signed with Season of Mist. But the Danish upstarts are already on the brink of a major discovery with their inventive debut album. Planned Obsolescence pushes progressive metal in a truly forward-thinking direction while warning of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“We wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen, who also produced, mixed and mastered their debut album. “Planned Obsolescence is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society. We now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed”.

Today, ONLY HUMAN are announcing Planned Obsolescence with a suspenseful video for the album’s lead single. “Automata” transmits a chilling message for the future, but the band’s cutting-edge fusion hits like a deep breath of fresh air.

Planned Obsolescence is out March 27th on Season of Mist. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Concept albums are standard procedure for metal, especially when it comes to the prog space. But when the five members of ONLY HUMAN came together via online and IRL connections, they wired the entire band’s framework around one encroaching idea. “Automata” surfs its synthetic grooves with clear command, as if by simply pressing a button. Though beneath its shining surface, the song processes the inherent danger in letting technology determine our individual thought patterns. During the music video, three thrill seekers follow guidance from their smartphone. Good times are had along the way, but tragically, they never stop to question whether it’s leading them to a dead end.

“We’ve offloaded critical thought”, Christensen explains. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”.

Planned Obsolescence is fueled by existential dread. Like a virus, electronic beats hack into the hard drive of “Automata”, much in the same way that technology continues to creep into our everyday lives. But that doesn’t mean that the album leaves us without hope. There’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about ONLY HUMAN. When main-frame shaking riffs reduce the song to digital ash, their message rings out loud and clear. “Defy and learn to walk again”.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, says Christensen. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh this year, starting next weekend in Denmark with Svartsot

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026:
January 31 – Fredericia, DN @ Tøjhuset
February 14 – Aalborg, DN @ Studenterhuset
June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
August 27-29 – Næstved, DN @ Næstved Metalfest

The video for “Automata” was directed by muyingo.

Additional Video Credits:
Starring: Ross Mangal Khan, Elyas Ben, Mads Højlund
Producer: Johan Dahlerup
Production Manager: Lou Wroblewski
Editor – Benjamin Giese Binzer
Director of Photography – Tobias Horvath
1st Assistant Camera – Mikke D. Jensen
2nd Assistant Camera – Johan Rostrup
Steadicam Operator – Noah Obel
Gaffer – Leonardo Bosetti
Light Equipment – Malik Thomsen
Sound Recording – Chris Kenter
Sound Design – Guilherme Magrin
Production Design – Martha Wallstrøm
Costume & Makeup Artist – Sofie Bau
PA- Mohammes Hussain
Visual Effects Artist – Marco Vegh
Storyboard Artist – Abu Shukran
Behind the Scenes – Jackson Heeley

Tracklist:
1. Drift (4:44)
2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54)
3. Steep Descent (5:56)
4. Death Cult (3:40)
5. Techno Fascist (6:01)
6. Automata (6:12)
7. Aspire (4:22)
8. Breach (5:41)

Full runtime: 40:32

Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.

“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed”.

ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.

All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.

Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.

ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup:
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen — Vocals
Martin Hastrup — Guitars
JaCK Kijne — Guitars
Andreas Pröll — Drums
Guillaume Blanjean — Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio:
Only Human Studio, Denmark.

Production Credits:
Producer & Sound Engineer — Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer — Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer — Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art:
Guillaume Blanjean

Follow Only Human:
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk