The Band From Another World
Formed in Manchester in 2015, Henge released Cosmic Dross in 2017 before following it with ATTENTION EARTH! in 2018 and Alpha Test 4 in 2023. Their growing following has taken them from their first Earth gig in Salford to festivals across Europe, where they now perform for audiences numbering in the thousands.
Their live shows are where the concept truly comes alive. Zpor, Goo, Grok, and Nom appear in elaborate alien costumes, surrounded by lighting, effects, and cosmic dancers. Zpor’s plasma-ball-topped headwear is only one part of the spectacle. The band treats their interplanetary identities with complete seriousness, inviting audiences to suspend disbelief and join the mission.
That invitation extends to Journey to Voltus B, their latest long-player. The album turns listeners into members of the crew, joining Henge on a voyage toward a distant planet. Even the accompanying tour takes inspiration from space travel, borrowing the idea of a gravitational slingshot to propel the band toward their next destination.
The Cosmic Connection
What makes Henge work is the balance between spectacle and musicianship. The costumes attract attention, but the songs give the audience a reason to stay. Tracks such as “Slingshot,” “DNA,” and “Ascending” have audiences dancing, while “In Praise of Water” adds a more thoughtful environmental message beneath its psychedelic surface.
By the end of a Henge show, the distinction between performance and mythology becomes wonderfully blurry. Earthlings dance, extraterrestrials play, and for a couple of hours, everyone seems happy to believe in the same impossible story.
