From Antwerp, Belgium we introduce The Hickey Underworld. Forming from the closely-linked worlds of hardcore, punk and alternative rock, this is a band that a stagnant scene has been waiting for. Owing a small debt to the likes of Nirvana, Jesus Lizard and Minor Threat and possibly sharing common ground with fellow countrymen such as Evil Superstars, Millionaire and Deus – but still maintaining a stance of their own. There are no scene haircuts here, no false American affectations; no horrible emo posturing. This is the real: noise and anger and energy and ideas. And songs!
Yes. Plenty of songs. Their self-titled debut album is a juddering, thunderous, multi-headed monster of a record part post-hardcore catharsis, part discordant melody overload part unknown other.
The symbolically-loaded, talismanic / pseudo-Masonic artwork of The Hickey Underworld (and website for that matter) is something else too. Open up the sleeve or log on and youll find a mystical world full of symbols and hidden messages, a psychedelic state of the world representation inspired by Brazilian horror/sexploitation film maker Zé do Caixão aka Coffin Joe. The artwork took many months to construct, yet such attention to detail is all part of the bands reaction to a digital/download culture thats big on accessibility but down on the idea of a band as a complete package.
Its a sentiment also echoed in their shocking and controversial video to single Blonde Fire. Directed by Joe Vanhouttegem, THU guitarist Jonas describes the concept behind it as being Creation VS Destruction, Life VS Death.
