Hookworms - Pearl Mystic
- Written by Carris Boast
Answering only to their initials: MB, MJ, JN, SS and JW, Leeds based band Hookworms propel themselves into 2013 with the release of their debut album.
Their post-punk inspired, psychedelic sound grips and tangles you into a web of the weird and mysterious. The constant echo of lyrics along with a disturbed mix of honed, frantic beats, distilled with a slight fiery anguish, is just the right amount of emotion needed to create the album that is Pearl Mystic.
Distorted, delayed vocals add a dramatic tone to their twisted sound, captured in a mist of ominous drones and mysterious guitar riffs on album opener ‘Away Towards’ and following track ‘Form and Function.’ Post-apocalyptic squalls, squealing instruments and a gloomy, narcotic vibe can be found in tracks ‘i’, ‘ii’ and ‘iii’ which give the impression of being interludes for the better tracks here; or perhaps Hookworms’ attempt at writing their own Science Fiction movie soundtrack. The hazed vocals are more predominant on ‘In Our Time’, with repetitive lines of the mantra-like chorus, that cling to spine-tingling, metallic, guitar riffs and a cloud of lush, velvety tones that feels like travelling through the cosmos, deep into the abyss.
In 'Preservation', the frustrated noise of crashing cymbals surrounds screeching vocals from lead vocalist MJ, which break from bleak tones into a relentless chaotic climax that feels like it's going to send you to your knees as you lose control of all bodily functions. Somehow, simultaneously you want to jump and scream to the sensation of your blood boiling from an overdose of raging guitars. ‘Preservation’ alone dismisses the idea that great, alternative music is quickly dying. Soft, watery hums form shapes of kaleidoscopic melody which sound almost dreamlike. This hypnotic wave, accompanied by tambourine shakes and keyboard notes, crystallises the psychotropic nature of track ‘Since We Had Changed.’
Pearl Mystic ends with ‘What We Talked About’ and the relaying of the lyrics “say goodnight” is a calm and literal end to an album which is a brave beginning for a band that strive for great things. Hookworms’ eclectic sound was not shaped to belong amongst the mainstream drivel created today, but to stand with the misfits of music, in underground cellar bars, surrounded by a smell of dirt, gin and shoe polish. They have the ability to entertain a loyal audience which will fall in love with whatever madness they may create.
Pearl Mystic is out on March 4 on Gringo Records and is available from amazon