Album Reviews

The Hickey Underworld is back. Minus guitarist Jonas Goovaerts, who has since been replaced by Tim Van Haemel. Unfortunate, yes. But hey, shit happens. Luckily this personnel change doesn’t seem to have impacted the band’s sound too much as this Belgian bunch has once again delivered a motherfucker of an album that you can simply enjoy at home or use as the soundtrack during your next exorcism. The choice is yours.

Opening track and single “High School Lawyer” might not be as catchy as you’d expect a single to be, but it does get under your skin and stays there for a long time. “DWAMGOZ” shows a band that is trying to reign it in, constantly bordering on going all-out without ever letting go. The same goes for a lot of the songs on “Ill” and while it may sound as if they’ve calmed down a little, there’s still plenty of noise being thrown around. Like when “Colossal No” is gradually torn wide open. It’s there but it’s not as frontal as before.

From there on the band keeps doing what they do best… being delightfully weird. “DIY Lamborghini” does not only come with a great title, but sounds like Weezer on downers. Turns out that is a great combo. And for those of you who were missing the band’s early days, check out “Floor Opened Up”. Or better yet, simply check out all of the songs on “Ill”. You won’t regret it.