An unashamedly unvarnished, fantastically frenetic, first-rate, follow-up album!
Last year, former long-term Angelic Upstarts guitarist, Neil ‘Newts’ Newton, embarked on his post-Upstarts journey with his new band, HEED CASE. Once the right-hand man of the late and much-missed Mensi, he now fronts HEED CASE as both vocalist and guitarist, singing in his own Northeastern accent which adds genuine authenticity to the songs.
Their excellent debut album, ‘All the Rage’, explored the grim world of narcissism and entitlement in modern society. Barely stopping for breath, HEED CASE’s newly released second album, ‘Mongo’ (a term they coined to encapsulate their shared neurodivergent traits), draws directly from their individual experiences, offering an honest look at the ways neurodivergence shapes everyday life in unpredictable, frustrating, and often hilariously exotic ways. Newts, Si Cadelik on bass & backing vocals, and Mr Dusty (Ian Doust) on drums are all diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Newts explains that the source of the album title comes from Si’s bass audition video; “He was concentrating so hard he was quite stiff and cumbersome. So much so that he reminded me of Mongo from the film ‘Blazing Saddles’. Hence Mongo became a word to describe our traits and mannerisms associated with being neurodivergent.”
HEED CASE continue to broaden their sound beyond punk and psych rock roots, venturing even further outside their comfort zone in ‘Mongo’. On this new release, the guitar is just one element in a broader sonic palette, with the band incorporating more synths, samples, and innovative sound design. This fresh approach promises to intrigue listeners, offering a new musical experience, and reflecting what the inside of the band’s heads often feels like – “At times fecking scary!”
Kicking off with ‘ADHD‘, a clever offbeat rhythm from the drums contrasts with the chaotic guitars to give an accurate aural representation of how much is going on all at once in the Neurodivergent brain!
The pulsating bass rhythm of ‘Cuckoo Wackadoo‘ excellently expresses supressed anger. The song explores how it feels to be misunderstood for being different, and not knowing why.. then realising where your Neurodivergence originated..
‘Freaked‘ goes full-on, full pace, a tirade against the rabble-rousing agents of destruction who are tearing society apart via politics and the media. Ending the song by ampling the theme from 60s & 70s kids TV show ‘The Magic Roundabout’ over a baying football crowd to show how easily led people can be..
Another bass banger, ‘Manic‘ brings in synths to frantic effect, illustrating how hard it can be to concentrate when surrounded by the endlessly spinning plates of life.
A subject close to my heart, ‘Mask Up‘ explains in precise detail how we Neurodivergents are forced to mask for our own safety, in a society that often tells us we’re unacceptable. A lot of the time we don’t even realise we’re doing it, but it is incredibly destructive to our physical and mental health. Great song!
Guitar-driven ‘OCD‘ is a lightning-fast whirl through the world of making order out of chaos – “OCD, OCD, OCD, you gotta say it times three.”
Mr Dusty’s drums sound like they’re getting beaten to death in ‘Overwhelmed‘! A state most Nerodivergents find themselves constantly in, thanks to the additional burdens we bear, and just how incredibly draining and endless it seems.. but we have to make sure we don’t break.
The ‘Tyrants‘ of this land come in for a pasting next – Newts assures them they’ll get what they deserve “A ‘kiss’ from the working class”. A powerful and very necessary track, which the Upstarts would be proud of! The almost ghostly echoes of a crowd chanting ‘The Blaydon Races‘ brings back memories of the rallies we used to hold to stand up against our opressors.
I love the next track, ‘Why Can’t You?‘ The judgement and lack of understanding of Neurodivergence in a tremendous track which fully deserves to be a single!
Album closer ‘Zoners‘ goes off-piste sonically. Filled with psychedelic swirls, the song tells us to leave those who are ‘in their zone’ be – they ae happier that way!
An album filled with the understanding that only comes from lived experience, it’s grand to hear Neurodivergence explored so vividly and openly. The Punk community is full of Neurodivergents and we have been silently supporting each other for years. Now it’s time to speak up loud and proud! I love the twist on the LEGO logo used on the album cover – the uninformed often infantilize Neurodivergents, and make fun of their interests – so this speaks to us as well.
Get your copy of ‘Mongo‘ on limited edition CD or download / stream from HEED CASE via their Bandcamp page HERE or their website HERE.
Main Photo Credit: RUTH RAE
- ADHD
- Cuckoo Wackadoo
- Freaked
- Manic
- Mask Up
- OCD
- Overwhelmed
- Tyrants
- Why Can’t You?
- Zoners
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