Black midi singer and guitarist Geordie Greep had already announced his love to hell before the release, he leafed through a film album with his screen favorites on the subject: Dante’s “Inferno”, Homer Simpson in hell, the robot hell in Matt Groening’s “Futurama “. When Black Midi now extend their invitation with the song “Welcome To Hell”, Greep moves into spheres somewhere between life and death: “To die for your country does not win a war / To kill for your country is what wins a war. “
Difficult to contextualize lines that leave a strange aftertaste against the background of the war in Ukraine. However, together with the relentlessly changing tone colors and tempi, with the hard breaks known from Black Midi, they illustrate the intensity and inner turmoil at the core of these recordings. The band also points out that the stories gathered here are told from the perspective of a morally questionable character, and he now stumbles through an art rock theater filled with spectacle – excess, war, and yes: scare the hell.
HELLFIRE goes even more into the contrasts than its predecessor CAVALCADE, dazzling cabaret-pop sequences follow insane speed metal guitar showcases (“Sugar/Tzu”), bassist Cameron Picton still conducts “Eat Men Eat” with a flamenco guitar once somewhere else, first with gentle singing, in the finale as a shouter – out of control. And suddenly Black Midi wave to us from afar with a tender country song: it’s called “quiet”, BJ Cole plays the pedal steel guitar on it, and this track also knows how to turn things around with drones and field recordings. HELLFIRE is the music for chaos and its downside, sometimes with a lovely smile.
SIMILAR REVIEWS
Sniffany & The Nits :: The Unscratchable Itch
Punk as it should be: snotty, puke loud and lightning fast.
Carlos Truly :: Not Mine
Slacker funk that grooves like a perpetual George Michael.
MUNA :: MUNA
The Californian electro-pop trio are now writing their queer anthems for indie hit radio.
SIMILAR ARTICLES
Listen: Black Midi announce CAVALCADE for May and present new single
May makes everything new: London newcomers Black Midi present their new album on May 28 with a new band line-up. The single “John L” can be heard in advance.
Black Midi play three shows in Germany in October
By then they may no longer be an insider tip!
Podcast: Why Dendemann is angry at not being a gangster
Ruhrpott romance and elegance: We talk to ME author Davide Bortot about Dendemann on “Music Sounds Better With ME”. Also: a rap collective with an unpronounceable name and lots of concert and music recommendations.
<!–
–>
<!–
–>