Heartwork (The Used album)


Heartwork is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Used. It was released on April 24, 2020 on Big Noise.

Background

In mid-2019, The Used signed to their long-time friend and producer John Feldmann's record label Big Noise. They started recording the album in June 2019, took a break to headline the Disrupt Festival tour, and finished recording the album in November 2019. A music video for the single "Blow Me" was released in December 2019, "Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton" in February, and "Cathedral Bell" in April. This is the first album to feature Joey Bradford on guitar after Justin Shekoski left in 2018. The band recorded 26 songs during the Heartwork sessions and plan on releasing another album later in 2020 that will include the remaining songs.

Reception

Ali Shutler of NME rated the album four out of five stars, writing that The Used returned to their heart-pounding choruses and pop sensibilities after their experimental work with The Canyon. She wrote that "Heartwork is full of dark, brooding songs" that are familiar but daring.
At gigwise.com, Laviea Thomas gave it eight out of ten stars. She noted that the album started with flying riffs and swirling energy that becomes a joyous ride ending with an emotional goodbye as McCracken pleads, "I just wanna feel something, anything is better than this." Thomas also wrote that the return of Feldmann was "an undeniable part of the magic behind this album."

Track listing

Personnel

The Used
Additional musicians
Production