Debut album from an excellent Belgian band, formed in 2005 and named after a track by legends Nation Of Ulysses, The Hickey Underworld sound more Scandanavian than European with regards to their metallic tinged brand of punk rock. All sharp edges and gritty guitar fuzz, unexpectedly morish melodies roll out from dark, bass-filled corners, their less-is-more, uncluttered dynamic allowing each song space to develop with truly explosive results. Lyrically astute, this band manage to capture real emotion without emo posturing. It’s raw, it’s dark, it’s honest and ultimately, it’s weirdly fucking beautiful.
