Microshift

by 
AlbumFeb 02 / 20189 songs, 46m 37s
Neo-Psychedelia
Popular Highly Rated

Forget everything you know about Hookworms. Ok, maybe not everything; the urgency and viscera both live and on record that led the five-piece to prominence across two blistering full-length LPs—2013’s Pearl Mystic and 2014 follow-up The Hum—remains. However, as they return with their much-anticipated third record Microshift, the title of the record connotates more than just the intended nod to the audio plug-in their vocalist MJ regularly uses; it could also be an understatement of a three-year narrative that’s brought about changing circumstances, influences and subsequent evolution.

63

7.9 / 10

The English psych-punks turn down the distortion and face their demons with a new, synth-y sound on their third album.

C

Rhye turns in another half hour of immaculate R&B with Blood, while Payroll Giovanni & Cardo’s Big Bossin Vol. 2 feels like liquid summertime, and Hookworms pull themselves back from the abyss on Microshift. These, plus AWOLNATION and The Soft Moon in this week’s notable new releases.

In an ever-changing landscape for British guitar music 'Microshift' deserves to expand the size of Hookworms hard-won community.

9 / 10

It's the beginning of the 2018 and talk of albums of the year right now is obviously churlish, but on Microshift we're hearing a band hitting their sweet spot with such an effortless swagger that we're sure this is a contender.

It bristles with life and never sits still.

Microshift utilises Hookworms' propensity for psychedelia and takes it somewhere new resulting in their most accessible record to date.

8.5 / 10

When floods destroyed Suburban Homes Studio-which is ran by Hookworms' MJ and birthed the band's two previous studio albums—it was hard to imagine a third Hookworms studio LP ever coming to fruition.

8 / 10

Hookworms recently revealed that with ‘Microshift’, they wanted “to make a record that when we played it would be euphoric.” This

8 / 10

The title of Leeds band Hookworms' third album, 'Microshift', is a red herring - it represents a major change of pace and a huge step up.

7.0 / 10

Beth Andralojc reviews 'Microshift', the new full-length by Hookworms

On their third album, the Leeds band shed some distortion to reveal powerful vocals and tough pop melodies – without sacrificing any intensity

Album Reviews: Hookworms - Microshift

8 / 10