Incubus
Light Grenades

Epic/Sony-BMG

Like Nickelback, Incubus is an alt-rock band that’s been around forever and sold millions without becoming iconic. Unlike Nickelback, they don’t record the same hit song over and over.

In fact, their sixth effort, and first in three years, is a little all over the place, but in a good way. After 15 years, these former nu-metal acolytes have built a rep as credible experimentalists tossing new ideas into the mainstream.

That’s what the title Light Grenades is about — the explosive power of ideas — and singer Brandon Boyd’s lyrics have gotten heavier even as their hard-rock sound lightens up a little.

Sure, first single “Anna Molly” lands with a wallop and the title track is pretty much all riffs, but they also deliver a surprisingly strong pair of ballads — “Oil and Earth” and “Love Hearts”. The band goes pop on the inevitable radio hit “Diamonds and Gold” and acoustic on the pretty, two-part “Earth To Bella”.

Their music may not sound as timely as some hipper bands, but Incubus is cool with that. After all, they’re going for timeless.