Gorillaz is a virtual band that was created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett in 1998; Albarn and Hewlett worked together to produce the music and animation to make the band successful. The band consists of four animated members: 2-D (lead vocals and keyboard), Russel Hobbs (percussion), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar and vocals), and Noodle (guitar and keyboard). Albarn and Hewlett sought to create the virtual band in order to urge their listeners to enjoy music without idolizing the musicians.

Their first single Clint Eastwood was released and, in succession to the single, they officially debuted with their self-titled album Gorillaz in 2001. The animated band gained massive popularity throughout the early 2000’s and eventually released their album Demon Days in 2005 which featured their most popular hit Feel Good Inc. Despite their success, the band still proved loyal to their message: music before musicians.

After producing six albums including their latest album Plastic Beach in 2010, Gorillaz didn’t put out another record. Avid fans were devastated upon their lack of studio music releases, but they still enjoyed live performances that consisted of animated backdrops featuring the virtual members. As far as live performances are concerned, Albarn serves as the lead vocalist and voice of 2-D, and other musicians and artists travel with him as temporary members.

After seven years without releasing any music, Gorillaz dropped the beginnings of their album Humanz in March of 2017. The tracks Saturnz Barz (feat. Popcaan), Andromeda (feat. D.R.A.M.), Ascension (feat. Vince Staples), and We Got The Power (feat. Jehnny Beth) were all released simultaneously, exciting fans worldwide. Saturnz Barz was accompanied by an animated film Saturnz Barz (Spirit House) featuring the track and the animated members, so it served as a music video of sorts.

Gorillaz has been known for their ability to not conform to any specific genre, making their sound extremely unique and their albums distinctive from one another. Humanz features a plethora of artists and, as a whole, is an unmistakable change from its predecessors. Electronica and hip-hop vibes dominate the sound of the album, however each track is exclusive and different from the other.

Humanz was released worldwide on April 28, 2017. Its eccentric sounds and electronic vibe proved to be consistent with their talent; the album sounded unique and fresh, but the “Gorillaz vibe” remained. The 26 track album featured multiple different artists with each featured artist delivering a new sound, tone, and message. Despite the long hiatus, Humanz proved to be well worth the wait.