New Jersey post-hardcore trio Human Error are leaning fully into tension and weight on their new EP “sour chalk water,” which is out now. Across three tracks, the band blends thick, ’90s grunge-leaning riffs with modern post-hardcore urgency in a way that feels intentional rather than nostalgic.
Recorded and produced by Adam Cichocki at Timber Studios, whose credits include Soul Blind and ASkySoBlack, the EP sounds exactly how it should. The guitars are dense without turning muddy, the basslines climb through distortion with purpose, and the drums hit with enough punch to keep everything grounded. Over it all, the vocals carry a raw, cathartic edge that never feels performative.
The release opens with “make it okay,” which sets an uneasy tone before giving way to “too far down to earth,” the emotional center of the project. The song tackles insecurity head-on while building toward a massive chorus that feels earned. The riffs stay aggressive, but there is space in the arrangement allowing the tension to breathe, which ultimately makes the heavier moments land harder, and the whole project feels more balanced and mature. The closing track, “acceptance speech,” rounds things out without softening the edge, giving the EP a cohesive arc instead of feeling like three disconnected singles.
Alongside the EP, Human Error shared an intense video for “too far down to earth,” directed by Harrison Kraft. The visuals move between clinical, almost medical-experiment imagery and a stripped-down performance from the band, creating a contrast that mirrors the song’s internal struggle. It is stark, and it amplifies the discomfort in the track rather than distracting from it.
Human Error will also be performing on February 22 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, at Cinco De Mayo alongside Buffout, Sunnyboyy, and Living Proof.
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