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The Creeping Nobodies weren't joking when they called their latest album Sound Of Joy, even though its scary vocals, dissonant chorus of crashing guitars, keyboards and bass and atmosphere of impending doom might not immediately suggest joyfulness.
According to singer-guitarist Derek Westerholm, however, there's more to Joy than meets the ear.
"It's odd, because the performance comes off as dark and dense, but the feeling isn't always like that," Westerholm explained in a recent interview.
"It's not always coming from a place of darkness, even though it sounds very manic and moody. It's almost like we're toying with darkness, commenting on it. I don't think we're moody or dour people, but we like things to sound that way. We're excited by the intensity of the music, and we allow that to come through."
The density of the album's sound, Westerholm says, is a product of five musicians playing in unison simultaneously.
"Later, we realized that there are different ways to do things than all of us trying to fit in as much as we can. But I kinda like that, too. I like that there are lots of things happening, lots of voices and lots of character with all of us kind of sifting our way through the songs. And I hope that as much as it's dark, that it's also uplifting in a way, maybe even humourous or ridiculous."
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The Toronto quintet formed for a fall tribute in 2001, but the current lineup -- which also includes guitarist Valerie Uher, bassist Matthew McDonough, keyboardist Sarah Richardson and drummer Dennis Amos -- really only solidified during the recording of their 2004 album, Stop Movement, Stop Loss.
"Right now, the band is entirely collaborative," Westerholm said. "We explore ideas when we're rehearsing, and exchange ideas for lyrics. Generally, we know roughly what the other is saying, but we don't sit down and map it out. There's a laxness and a freedom until things fall into place."
The Creeping Nobodies unleash Sound Of Joy tomorrow at the Horseshoe, with the Wharton Tiers Ensemble, Ryvyr and Wyrd Visions.