Gothtober - Heartworms :'Glutton For Punishment'

I've had this album for a while, and I've simmered on it before reviewing, as I wasn't able to fully form my thoughts on it. Heatworms has received a fair amount of hype online, with Podcasters already claiming it's one of the best darkwave albums of the year. There are some interesting things going on. Though, how dark is it? Well, dark enough for me to sandbag this review til Gothtober. There are organic qualities blended with a chamber-pop sound that brings Dresden Dolls to mind in equal doses as Rasputina, though, as evident on the first track, there is more guitar than either, and this is allowed to build in a more rock fashion.

Helmed by Jojo Orme, this project is mroe organic and capable of rocking out than your average darkwave band, with songs like "Jacked' falling on the more post-punk side of the equation. The guitars are capable of delivering the needed jagged tension. The album spends a great deal of time juggling the more electronic elements against a jangle of guitar that leans left of center into a moodier indie on the catchy "Mad Catch" which would not have been out of place on alternative radio in the late 90s, as it rubs shoulders with bands like the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs or Coco Rosie. But there is enough shadow in the groove to keep my attention. 

The strength here is that these are well-written songs that overcome the confines of genres. There is a more atmospheric moodiness beyond the beat of "Extraordinary Wings. Orme's voice goes into more of a purr on this song. There is almost a Tori Amos-like feel to it.  Things shift into brighter sounds for the more dramatic steampunk pop of "Warplane". It's very dynamic, so hard to complain about it as the beat carries it with great urgency. "Celebrate" marries lo-fi beats with dream-pop tendencies. Not dark enough to be darkwave, but it works for what it is; they do allow it to jam out into a more Tim Burton-esque place.

There is more of a wandering rock feel to 'Smugglers Adventure". Does it flirt with Siouxsie-like tendencies at times? Yes.  In fact, it might be one of the more elegant goth-leaning songs on the album. Her expressive singing sounds great here as she really belts it out. The unexpected folk rock ending is interesting. Then things take on a more folk feel for the last song. While it's going to take a few more listens to decide what this is, it is evident that it is really well-written and catchy fun songs, even if they are not as dark as they want them to be. I will give this a 10 and see how it grows on me.  

pst476