British art-punk band HMLTD get fantastical on their sophomore album The Worm released on the 7th April. The Worm is a concept album, reminiscent of Ween’s The Mollusk (1997), exploring what a medieval England swallowed by a humongous worm would be like.
The band, who have been known in the past to take delight in the absurd, combine glam and prog rock to create a chaotic 40-minute epic. Inside the belly of the worm, England has evolved into a feudal system ruled by “the Devertebrates” – lords who have removed their spines to honour the great beast. Henry Spychalski, the lead singer of the ensemble, transforms himself into the heroic leader of the counter-resistant group called “the Grunters” who attempt to escape from the creature.
The frontman explained: “The Worm here is both a metaphor for capitalist greed, and the embodiment of a whole generation’s anxiety, dread and fear in the face of ever-looming apocalypse and world-ending natural disasters”. A manifesto further explaining the great mythical lore behind the album is also available to purchase alongside a physical copy here.
Music videos for “The End Is Now”, “Wyrmland”, and “The Worm” have brought to life the nightmarish England all directed by Spychalski.
Watch the video for “The End Is Now” below:
HMLTD started off as Happy Meal Ltd. in London in 2015. However, the band didn’t release their debut EP, Hate Music Last Time Delete, until 2018, and their debut album, West of Eden, until 2020. Having signed to the major label Sony in 2017, the band were dropped after inconsolable disagreements between the label and the band on their image and direction. Their first and second albums have been released through the London-based independent label Lucky Number.
Back in 2017, the flamboyant band, who often play with gendered dress codes, came under fire for what some perceived as queer baiting. “We’re trying to challenge toxic masculinity and we’re doing that from the perspective we can do that from, as the human beings we were born into being, which is predominantly straight cis men,” lead singer Henry Spychalski told DIY Magazine. “But I don’t think having that role should exclude or prohibit you from taking on that political perspective and from taking on what is probably the most violent, toxic, cruel force in our society. We’re learning from queer methods and we always try to express that indebtedness”.
The theatrical band is sure to put on a show during their two consecutive dates at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London this May. They will also be taking the stage at End of the Road Festival this summer. For tickets see here.
For HMTLD’s UK dates see below:
18/05/23 – Institute of Contemporary Arts – London
19/05 – Institute of Contemporary Arts – London
31/08 – End of the Road Festival – Salisbury
