Leeds’ Hookworms are set to release their debut album, Pearl Mystic (artwork above), on March 4 via Gringo, and as a first listen to their sprawling, psych-tinged behemoth rock, here’s album cut ‘In Our Time’:
The LP comes off the back of a self-titled EP put out by Sun Araw’s Sun Ark label and Faux Discx/Gringo Records and a split 7" with Kogumaza, also released by Gringo.
Says Hookworms’ guitarist MB (all the band members going for the initials-only moniker): "The original idea was for us to play slow, dirgey noise-rock along the lines of Pissed Jeans, Flipper, My War-era Black Flag etc and though sound’s changed a lot, the aggressive delivery certainly hasn’t."
As evidenced by ‘In Our Time’, the band are partial to a bit of reverb, specifically via a vintage echo unit, as singer MJ adds: "My vocal style, for instance, has been informed by the Roland Space Echo. The delayed vocals originated as a comfort blanket for the low confidence I have in my voice, but I have since learnt to sing with the machine – I understand its limitations and breaking points."
The band are playing a few shows around the date of the release, including one with the supremely ace Bo Ningen in Sheffield and an album launch party Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club with Cold Pumas (who also support in Nottingham) and Mick Flower – have a look below:
JANUARY
Thu 31 – Wharf Chambers, Leeds
FEBRUARY
Thu 21 – Red Gallery, London
Fri 22 – Stuck On A Name Studios, Nottingham
Sat 23 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
MARCH
Sat 30 – Queens Social Club, Sheffield
