Sometimes a song just hits at the exact moment you need it to. "Heal Me I'm Heartsick" is one of those tracks. It’s heavy. It’s desperate. Honestly, it’s one of the most raw things to come out of the mid-2010s rock scene, and people are still obsessed with it today. If you’ve spent any time on alt-rock TikTok or deep in the archives of post-hardcore history, you know this isn't just a random bop. It’s a piece of a much larger, much more complicated story involving a band that had to rebuild themselves from total wreckage.
We’re talking about No Devotion.
You can't really talk about this song without acknowledging the elephant in the room. No Devotion formed from the ashes of Lostprophets. After the horrific criminal revelations surrounding their former singer, the remaining members—Lee Gaze, Mike Lewis, Jamie Oliver, Stuart Richardson, and Luke Johnson—were left in a localized version of hell. They didn't do anything wrong, but their careers were essentially nuked overnight. They were musicians who suddenly had no voice and no platform. Then they found Geoff Rickly.
The Geoff Rickly Factor
Geoff Rickly, the frontman of the legendary post-hardcore band Thursday, wasn't just a guest singer. He was a lifeline. When he teamed up with the Cardiff guys, they didn't just try to recreate the past. They pivoted. They went for something cinematic, dark, and synth-heavy.
"Heal Me I'm Heartsick" is the standout track from their 2015 debut album, Permanence. It doesn't sound like a "new band" trying to find its footing. It sounds like a group of veterans who have seen the absolute worst of the industry and are trying to purge the poison through melody. The track is built on this driving, pulsing bassline that feels like a heartbeat—or maybe a headache. You’ve got these shimmering guitars that feel like they’re bleeding into the background. It’s moody. It’s gloomy. It’s perfect for a rainy drive when you’re feeling a bit sorry for yourself.
Rickly’s vocals here are peak Rickly. He’s always had this way of sounding like he’s about to break, but never quite does. On this track, he’s pleading. The lyrics aren't some complex metaphorical puzzle. They’re a direct cry for help. "Heal me, I'm heartsick" is about as blunt as it gets.
Why It Still Ranks So High for Fans
Most music from 2015 has faded into the "oh yeah, I remember that" category. Not this one. There’s a specific kind of "New Wave" revivalism in the production that makes it feel timeless. It borrows from The Cure and Joy Division, but it has the grit of the 2000s New Jersey emo scene.
Listen to the layering. The production, handled largely by the band and Dave Fridmann (who worked with The Flaming Lips and MGMT), is dense. It’s not a "loudness war" victim. There is space. There is air. When the chorus hits, it doesn't just explode; it washes over you.
People often mistake "heartsick" for just being about a breakup. It’s not. In the context of No Devotion, it’s about collective trauma. It’s about being sick of the situation you’re in and needing a way out. Fans connect with it because everyone has felt that "stuck" feeling. Whether it’s a job you hate, a city that feels too small, or a reputation you didn't earn, the sentiment is universal.
The Technical Side of the Sound
If you’re a gear nerd, this song is a goldmine. The synths aren't just presets. They feel organic. The band used a lot of vintage gear to get that specific Permanence sound.
- The Bass: Stuart Richardson’s bass tone is the anchor. It’s distorted but clear.
- The Atmos: There are layers of "found sounds" and feedback tucked into the mix.
- The Vocals: Rickly’s voice is treated with just enough reverb to make it sound like he’s in a cathedral, adding to that sense of isolation.
The song actually performed quite well on the charts for an indie release, especially in the UK. It showed that the audience was willing to follow the musicians into a new era if the music was actually good. And it was. It was better than good.
Addressing the Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong? They think No Devotion was a "supergroup" meant to make a quick buck. That’s total nonsense. If they wanted a quick buck, they would have made a radio-friendly pop-punk record. Instead, they made a sprawling, shoegaze-adjacent post-punk album that was intentionally difficult in places.
"Heal Me I'm Heartsick" was the bridge. It was the "pop" song of the record, even though it’s still pretty dark. It gave people a way in.
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There's also this weird idea that the band broke up shortly after. They didn't. They took a long hiatus—life happened, Geoff had his own struggles with addiction (which he’s been incredibly open about), and the world moved on. But they came back in 2022 with No Oblivion. The fact that people immediately went back to "Heal Me I'm Heartsick" when the new album dropped proves that the song has legs. It’s the "foundational" track for their entire identity.
How to Actually Experience the Track
If you’re just listening to this on crappy phone speakers, you’re doing it wrong. This is a headphone song.
- Find the FLAC or high-res version. Spotify is fine, but you lose the shimmer in the high end.
- Listen to the transition. If you play the album Permanence in order, the way the tracks flow into "Heal Me I'm Heartsick" is intentional. It’s part of a narrative arc.
- Watch the live versions. Seeing Geoff Rickly perform this live is a different beast. He isn't just singing; he’s exorcising demons. The band is tight—scary tight.
What No Devotion Taught Us
This song is a lesson in resilience. It’s easy to quit when the world turns against you for something you didn't do. It’s much harder to pick up an instrument and write something beautiful. No Devotion didn't ask for permission to exist. They just existed.
"Heal Me I'm Heartsick" remains the perfect introduction to a band that shouldn't have worked but did. It’s a reminder that even when things are at their absolute worst, you can still find a melody in the mess.
If you’re feeling "heartsick" yourself, stop looking for quick fixes. Put on the record. Let the synths swell. Understand that the guys playing those instruments were feeling exactly what you’re feeling, probably worse, and they made it to the other side.
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To get the most out of your No Devotion listening session, start by comparing the studio version of "Heal Me I'm Heartsick" with their 2014 BBC Radio 1 Rock Show session. The live energy adds a layer of desperation that the polished studio track subtly hides. From there, move directly into the No Oblivion album to see how their sound evolved from "heartsick" to a more mature, refined form of melancholy. It’s a masterclass in how to age gracefully in the alternative scene without losing your edge.
Actionable Insights for New Listeners:
- Analyze the Lyrics: Focus on the second verse. It's often overlooked but contains the most poignant imagery of the entire "heartsick" metaphor.
- Playlist Placement: Add this track to your "Post-Punk Revival" or "Dark Wave" playlists rather than standard "Emo" lists; it fits the sonic profile of bands like Interpol or The Chameleons much better.
- Check the Credits: Look into the work of producer Dave Fridmann if you like the "wall of sound" feel. It’ll lead you to other artists with a similar sonic depth.