SCHLAGENHEIM

I have been playing a lot of fighting games recently, and I always like to relate things I enjoy with music. So, now I kinda see an artist's or band's discography as a sort of select screen, with different archetypes. You got the grappler albums that hook you in and never let go, you got the rushdown albums that never let up, you got the zoner albums that are quite tricky to get your hands on. And then you got albums that are just kind of weird, even in a discography that might already be weird. You know albums that are kinda like Zappa from Guilty Gear XX, or Hornet from Fighters Megamix. Albums that are, in the grand scheme of things, just really weird in a discography. And for black midi, which is a band that already has two other notably weird albums, it's no surprise their debut is one of their weirdest yet.

Unlike Cavalcade and Hellfire which are more of a controlled chaos, Schlagenheim is just out there. This album was before they really delved into a more progressive rock leaning sound, so they were more known as a very experimental noise rock group. And noisy this album is, because by the first track of 953 they rarely relent on their super noisy aspects, making music that is extremely intense. As a fan of noise rock, this album is a treat to listen to, especially on the more overtly post-hardcore tracks like Speedway and Years Ago.

The album is also more overtly math rock and post-punk in comparison to their other albums, giving this one a very different aura around it. If I had to describe the album's energy, it would be '1800s insane asylum'. Their other albums are definitely crazy too, don't get me wrong, but again, the controlled chaos does make them feel less wild, which isn't bad, but Schlagenheim certainly is unafraid to go full throttle, which it does most of the time.

I do think that the albums later on in black midi's discography is much better though, mainly because I find they work more in a progressive leaning stance more often than not. Don't get me wrong, this album is definitely prog, but it's more prog second and noisy math rock first. I think if the band upped their progginess on here it'd be just as good as Cavalcade or Hellfire in my opinion. What we got here is still really good, but I feel like its unrelenting wild, fenetic energy does lose a bit of the edge that the two future records they made have.

But this album has one thing that gives it some extra points in comparison to Cavalcade and Hellfire...it has bmbmbm. I freaking love bmbmbm. It's crazy, it's stupid, it's edgy, it's basically black midi saying 'we're not gonna be accessible anytime soon' and I love it. Play this infront of your grandma.

While it may not be Cavalcade or Hellfire, Schlagenheim definitely proves its worth and mirth by being a crazy noise rock record for all to hear. In a way, I feel like black midi's already small discography wouldn't be as fruitful to listen to if Schlageneheim didn't exist. Like a good roster, you gotta have that one or two weirdos to really complete the select screen. Sometimes, you just gotta have Schlagenheim in your life.

Best tracks: Speedway, bmbmbm, Years Ago

Worst tracks: n/a

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