Album Review: Who on Earth – It Takes the Village (Self Released)

Who on Earth, the New Jersey hard rock/metal band, are back with their new album, ‘It Takes the Village’, out May 8th, 2026.

What good’s a rock without a roll? It’s a question that all head bangers should know the answer too, but if you’re unsure, Who on Earth can tell you. It Takes the Village is a high-powered, energetic effort with heart and soul oozing from every aspect of it. They believe in what they do, and do it with aplomb, but they’re also not afraid to experiment too. This is what gives many tracks a bit more of a metal edge.

It’s easy to dig what they’re doing here, especially as defining it takes a bit more work, and exploring the record is a lot of fun.

Fun that involves banging the head and shaking the ass to the likes of Vigilance, singing along to the anthemic Any Other Way, and experiencing the Maiden/Priest worship that is Shadows. The first part of the album is seriously solid, and while I don’t think there is anything ground-breaking, it doesn’t stop it being enjoyable.

One of the things I like about a lot of the tracks, and the album, is the measured approach that Who on Earth takes. There’s energy, tons of it, but it’s focused energy and the tempos aren’t dictated by it. This does mean there’s a touch of sluggishness to a track like Good Man Down, but it comes at a point where the melodic switch is welcome. Whereas the instrumental minute long Closer leaves next to no impact.

Ah well, you can’t win them all, and there are other examples later of where Who on Earth don’t quite hit the mark, but mostly, I find myself quite taken with the album’s hard rock ways. Where a middle section gives us punchy efforts like Too Close, Monster, and We Don’t Belong Here. Easily three of the album’s highlights. Especially as, lyrically, there’s some really potent stuff here.

Near the end of the album, there’s a really unexpected, but cool, cinematic track like Ascension. It doesn’t fit with the album tone at all, but damn it, it’s epic. It does share a small connection with The Unbeaten, which is a dramatic and orchestral effort that features dual vocals and tons of melodic power. I dig it.

For those who want a bit more, there’s a couple of bonus tracks that offer up a bit more variety, but each is a nice to have and not a need to have.

Who on Earth – It Takes the Village Track Listing:

1. Vigilance
2. Any Other Way
3. Shadows
4. Good Man Down
5. Closer
6. Too Close
7. Double Or Nothing
8. Monster!
9. Oh, Set Me Free
10. We Don’t Belong Here
11. Ascension
12. The Unbeaten
13. Jane (Bonus Track)
14. Down And Out – Dvrko Remix (Bonus Track)
15. Vigilance [Extended] (Feat. Mike Orlando & Jason Bittner) (Bonus Track)

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