Flat Worms - Antarctica

by Dave Goodwin

published: 27 / 5 / 2020

Label: Drag City
Format: CD

Powerful punk on third album from Los Angeles band Flat Worms which provides hope despite these difficult times

Review

'Antarctica' is the third Flat Worms albums. It has only been three years since the release of their eponymous debut album in 2017 but the change in sound of one of the best punk bands in recent years has morphed into something a little meatier. Whereas the earlier sound was a sort of medium-rare sirloin this is a well done Jurassic T-bone. 'Into the Iris', last year's EP, was an indicator of what was to come and Flat Worms have delivered with aplomb. Flat Worms see the world in flames, deserts in permafrost, everyone in their own corners, looking down into their hands with nothing in common. We can all see that the way it’s happening isn’t working, and for a lot of us that’s okay. As long as it doesn’t rock our boat, we’ll cope. But for people who are invested in the future, any future – like Flat Worms – they’re out there, full time living, playing to change minds. And they’re not alone. It reflects a situation that’s dire, but not hopeless. The album was recorded and mixed at Electric Audio, Chicago in collaboration with Steve Albini of Big Black and Shellac. Will Ivy’s waspish full-on guitar leads completely compliment with the deep rhythm of Tim Hellman’s bass and Justin Sullivan’s frantic drum deliverance. The title track is for me a slower but stronger part of this offering, along with the faster head-splitting 'Condo Colony'. This album is in fact a shout out of hope in an uncertain world, uncannily appropriate in these seriously ambiguous times we find ourselves in now. There is a glimpse in the chaos that is today that Flat Worms can see a better time even in the cold wastes. If you give the front cover a close inspection, you will see the words in the title 'Volume 1 – California;. Now I’m no expert, but that tells me we can probably expect another dose of the same shortly. I for one hope so. Brilliant!

Track Listing:-

1 The Aughts
2 Plaster Casts
3 Market Forces
4 Antarctica
5 Via
6 The Mine
7 Ripper One
8 Condo Colony
9 Signals
10 Wet Concrete
11 Terms of Visitation