Utah rockers, The Used, are back with their eighth full length album Heartwork. Released on April 24th, this album may arguably be the best in the band’s extensive catalog of angsty screamo anthems. No strangers to commercial success, the band have reached a point in their careers where they can really take some changes with their song writing and it really comes through on this album.

Opening with the track “Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton,” the album initially finds the band in familiar territory. The song starts with an upbeat punkish guitar riff before channeling their 90s alternative roots. A perfectly constructed guitar solo brings this one home. Next we get to the first single from the album. This song features guest vocals from Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333, Letlive). Bert McCracken’s approach to lyricism hasn’t changed much which is sure to please long term fans, many of whom literally grew up with the band’s music. “What if you found a gun? Would you use it like I did? Put a bullet in my head!” Those lyrics are sure to resonate with many a listener. The song ends with one of the heaviest breakdowns in the band’s catalog as Bert and Jason scream their hearts out. 

Next is the song “BIG, WANNA BE.” This song really showcases the versatility of the band by going from one of the most aggressive songs on the album to one of the most pop oriented songs. The song blends elements of pop, dance, and even reggae to create what’s sure to be a favorite on alternative radio stations everywhere. Don’t get too comfortable, however, because the band bring back the aggression on the next track aptly title “Bloody Nose.” This song is everything that The Used fans have grown to love but executed on a much more mature level that only years of experience can bring. 

From here, the band lead us into a different direction with the much slower and more melodic “Wow, I Hate This Song.” This song is a clever and playful take on the feeling one gets when a song comes on that seems to emotionally stab you because it brings up painful memories. After the quick interlude, “My Cocoon,” we see the band dive into some unchartered territory. The track “Cathedral Bell” contains more electronic elements then we’ve ever seen from the band. This is The Used like you’ve never heard before. Here we find Bert McCracken’s heavily synthesized vocals layered atop of bass heavy electronic music and the perfect dose of keyboards.

The song “1984-infinite jest” takes us on a very theatrical journey. There are so many layers to this song that you’ll feel like you’re immersed in a short film. The vocal performance is among the best of Bert’s career. The last minute of the song makes you feel as though you are attending a Broadway musical as Bert soulfully belts out his vocals over a beautifully executed piano progression. Don’t worry though, if you’re thirsty for that old school The Used sound, the band still packs plenty of 90’s nostalgia into this effort. There is no better evidence of this than on the track “Gravity’s Rainbow.” Fans of the band’s early music will instantly fall in love with this song. It has all of the elements of old while still giving us a healthy dose of electronic elements to add depth to the song. 

The band keeps you on your toes, quite literally with the dancy anthem “Clean Cut Heals.” The presence of EDM is more evident on this track than any on the album. Tied in with the funk bass and the catchy vocals, this one just may have you dancing. After another interlude, “Heartwork,” we get into the song “The Lighthouse” featuring Mark Hoppus (Blink 182, Simple Creature). The message of this song is pretty powerful. It speaks of the feeling of constantly being a guiding light to others when you, yourself, are constantly being dragged under. 

One of the most explosive moments of the album comes from another collaboration, this time with Caleb Shomo (Beartooth, Attack Attack) on the song “The Lottery.” Anyone who is familiar with Caleb’s work likely knows exactly what to expect from this song. Boasting the heaviest breakdown of the band’s career, the song packs an even bigger punch with Caleb’s signature aggressive and emotional screaming. The album concludes with the song “To Feel Something.” This is one of the most vulnerable and authentic performances that we’ve heard from Bert and perfectly concludes an album in which the band explore the many different angles of their musical personalities.

Having been in the game for nearly two decades, The Used have certainly earned the right to some experimentation. In this case, the band’s openness to push their musical boundaries pays off in a huge way as they’ve created an incredibly diverse yet cohesive album.  After all of this time, the band are still putting out captivating and timeless music. We can only hope that they are just getting started. 

I’m Music Magazine Contributing Writer Jason Jarvis