Label: Domino Recording Company
Genre: Indie Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Post-Punk
Format: Vinyl / CD / Cassette
Description:
With Humbug, Arctic Monkeys took a bold turn into darker, more atmospheric territory, trading their frenetic early indie sound for brooding desert rock, hypnotic grooves, and smoky, late-night swagger. Produced with the help of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), the album pulses with eerie textures, shadowy riffs, and a seductive tension that marks a defining evolution for the band.
Alex Turner’s lyricism becomes more cryptic and cinematic here — filled with surreal imagery, whispered secrets, and intimate confessions. Tracks like “Crying Lightning,” “Cornerstone,” and “Pretty Visitors” showcase a newfound maturity and experimental edge, balancing raw energy with haunting restraint.
Humbug stands as a pivotal moment in Arctic Monkeys’ catalogue — the dark, mysterious chapter that paved the way for the band’s future reinventions.
For fans of Queens of the Stone Age, The Last Shadow Puppets, and indie rock with a psychedelic, noir-like edge, this album is essential — atmospheric, moody, and endlessly intriguing.