Worm – (CD review)
Worcester has been called “Worm Town” though I’m pretty sure this band isn’t from there. People say accusingly to me when I’ve committed acts of treason against nature and common sense, “Try to worm yourself out of this one, Slimedog.” When I was a young man I knew a guy called Worm. Kind of an acid casualty who admitted to performing oral sex on his inflatable doll (this is true). And, oh yeah, Mikke Worm, who is in this band, also plays in one of my favorite new bands- Bad Movies.
So what’s this got to do with this CD? This band? Hell, if I know. You think I know everything? You should ask someone who knows something about music. The longer I live the more I feel I don’t know anything. But I do know when I hear a slab of gritty, down to earth, driving punk rock. And this is where you can find it.
Worms are what eat you when you die. That’s right- you’re worm food! That’s your utmost function in the grand ecological system we’re part of. So don’t wait until you’re on the doorstep to the afterlife. Eternal bliss is right here on earth. This here is some great non-hardcore punk slamming against your eardrums, moshing against your brain, so to speak. Me, I’ll take this over paradise which seems kind of lame to me. I encourage you to do so, likewise.
This song, “Life” is a lot easier to take than life itself. It’s more enjoyable and smells a hell of a lot better, too. Starting with some “Wooh-oh-oh’s” and charging onward with an aural assault that would remind me a bit of Bad Religion if I thought that band was better. The vocals do not pause in its melodic/ dissonant thrust as drums pound incessantly behind them. Guitars buzz like pesky but awesome mosquitoes and backup vocals soar in like drunken eagles seeking their prey. Then some chugging of guitars and drums leads to a little guitar melodic/ dissonant interlude with the vocals coming into to prove that life can sound good even if it sucks, awesome tune.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Life.mp3|titles=Life]
This tune explodes all your expectations of a quiet Sunday morning and decimates all living matter within a hundred mile radius. “Grenade Parade” starts like maybe an AC/DC song is gonna happen but then the rhythm accelerates into changing scenery with a vocal that recalls early English punk along with a hard, buzzsaw slash of guitar that leads to the detonation of, “You better fuckin’ run- run, run.” Changing rhythms within the beat give no respite with the intense, aggressive vocals never faltering and you’re left with a clamoring, clanging good tune.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Gernade Parade.mp3|titles=Gernade Parade]
“First Amendment” proclaims its right to kick your ass aurally whether the authorities want to, this week or next, eliminate your chance for choice. It starts with some quiet guitar strumming away and then a few power chords chime in while the drums, waiting in anticipation with the vocals, finally come ripping in to grab you decisively by the throat. This song doesn’t take away your freedom only that of being bored as it’s another intense diatribe against the powers that be. High ringing guitar notes compliment the emphatic vocals while the backup vocals come in screaming to provide unison and encouragement. “Freedom of speech and then they take it away….Time to take our country back.” A little reggae breakdown toward the end with the guitar playing hide and seek with melodic/ dissonance again then a few power chords to take us out.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/First Amendment.mp3|titles=First Amendment]
“Fuck The System” is a full throttle headlong bashing of the eardrums, a two by four upside the head. It starts with four power chords then it’s a rush of driving malevolent goodness. The guitars are an avalanche of sound, the backup vocals tagged response of “Fuck ’em” sounds great; funny and passionate all at once. I can’t make out of all the words but I can make out clearly the power, passion, guts and truth that sparks a fire in this song, my favorite on the album.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Fuck The System.mp3|titles=Fuck The System]
Worm is a scruffy, spunky, rough tangle of spit, fire and venom that sometimes recall early English punk bands to me but always recall to me the straight forward truth, realness and passion of what all good punk claims a stake to be.
They’re in your face, socially conscious lyrics with a burning, grinding cyclone of sound ripping you from limb to limb, ear to ear and heart to soul.
Embrace it. What else can you do? It’s your destiny, worm food!
I dig it. …and I found worms.
(Slimedog)
