Heartworms Glutton for Punishment
Released Feb 7, 2025 Speedy Wunderground / [PIAS]
Established consensus 9 professional reviews Updated Oct 15, 2026
Strong critical consensus
Heartworms's Glutton for Punishment turns gothic dance-punk into a tightly controlled rush, earning strong praise for its force, precision, and concise nine-song form.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Jacked
2 critic mentions
“The beat on “Jacked” whips the air in dry circles before one of the best lead guitar riffs of the past few years” — PopMatters
Extraordinary Wings
2 critic mentions
“Using a choir to fill out the long outro line, "I don’t wish murder ’cause I got no right," while Orme deploys her full range to dart and soar over the top is chillingly effective” — PopMatters
Just To Ask A Dance
1 critic mention
“Just To Ask A Dance’ opens with a buccaneering string section,” — New Musical Express (NME)
Full critic consensus
Heartworms's Glutton for Punishment turns gothic dance-punk into a tightly controlled rush, earning strong praise for its force, precision, and concise nine-song form. Across nine professional reviews, the album reaches an 87.22/100 consensus score, a reception that reflects critics’ enthusiasm for a debut with a clear identity and little wasted space.
Reviewers highlight the way the record balances physical momentum with carefully shaped performances. “Jacked” is a standout, its driving beat and slashing guitar giving the song an immediate, muscular charge. Critics also praise “Extraordinary Wings” for its pristine vocal delivery, while “Warplane” builds from prophetic whispers to an operatic chorus. Together, these tracks capture the album’s knack for contrast: tightly wound arrangements that still leave room for a dramatic vocal turn or a sudden surge of energy. “Just To Ask A Dance” adds another striking detail with its buccaneering string opening.
The critical consensus prizes craft as much as impact. The songs feel honed to their ideal lengths, and the album’s coherence makes its highlights feel integral rather than isolated showpieces. Heartworms expands on the gothic dance-punk that first drew attention, but does so without losing the focus and force that define her sound. For anyone weighing whether Glutton for Punishment is worth hearing, critics make a persuasive case: it is a concise, highly assured record whose best tracks reward both movement and close attention.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
In The Beginning
Just To Ask A Dance
Jacked
Mad Catch
Extraordinary Wings
Warplane
Celebrate
Smugglers Adventure
Glutton For Punishment
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 9 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
On Glutton For Punishment, Heartworms delivers nine immaculate songs that prove brevity can equal potency, with “Jacked” and “Extraordinary Wings” standing out as the best tracks on Glutton For Punishment for their muscular riffs and chilling vocal stretch. Soulsby writes in that celebratory, exacting tone that admires songs she suspects were ground to their perfect length - the beat and lead-guitar slash of “Jacked” is singled out as one of the best songs here, while “Extraordinary Wings” is praised for pristine, unadorned vocal craft. The record’s coherence and lack of filler make the best songs feel inevitable rather than assembled, a precision-cut diamond of the highest quality. This is an album built from tight switches and feints, where the best tracks reward close listening and repeat plays.
Key Points
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“Jacked” is the best song for its whip-like beat and one of the best recent lead guitar riffs.
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The album’s core strength is its concise, precision-cut sequencing where every song earns its place.
Themes
Critic's Take
Heartworms has unleashed a tightly written, pulse-raising debut with Glutton for Punishment, expanding on the gothic dance-punk that first garnered her acclaim. The best songs on Glutton for Punishment make a virtue of contrast: the sheer physicality of “Jacked” will have you thrusting in no time, while “Just To Ask A Dance” opens with a buccaneering string section. “Warplane”, the almighty anthem of the album, builds from prophetic whispers to an operatic cry in the chorus. It is rare to see artists come bolting out the gate with such a strong identity, and here Heartworms proves she can stick the landing.
Key Points
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“Warplane” stands out as the almighty anthem, building from prophetic whispers to an operatic cry.
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The album's core strength is its mix of gothic dance-punk, vivid sonic contrasts, and raw, intimate writing.
Themes
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