Black Midi - Hellfire

tupan wrote: Listened to it and... It's excellent, one of the best albums released in 2022!

Zeph wrote: It took a bit to get used to it, but helped that I started listening to BCNR and Squid at the same time. I like Cavalcade even better now that I’ve listened to Hellfire and get a better feeling for their sound and style. The vocals was a hill to climb at first, but now I love it. Many of my favourite parts are when you are bombarded with lyrics. Like the title track of Hellfire. They have an edge, but that just makes it more interesting. There’s enough vanilla music out there.

Yeah, I think it is probably hard for a lot of people to get into it, especially if they aren't used to avant-prog or experimental rock, but I think hopefully more people will enjoy it!

I have a somewhat difficult relation to black midi. I like their general approach and there are many parts that are really great, but they regularly throw in some stuff that annoys me and distracts me from the good things they're doing. Occasionally they seem to do stuff with the primary motivation to piss off simple minds, and I'm not particularly keen on that attitude. The vocals are for sure an acquired taste for me. After having seen their Glastonbury gig I have heard Hellfire once now, and I seem to get more into it as it goes on. I may ultimately end up liking it quite a bit, I see the potential, but I have to work my way into it. 


Edited by Lewian - July 28 2022 at 08:44

Gentle and Giant wrote: I think I've played this album 15-20 times by now and it still impresses me. I don't normally give an album so much attention, but this has really gripped me. The start of 'The Race Is About to Begin' gave me goosebumps today that lasted throughout this amazing song - it so ferocious I feel worn out after hearing it, thankfully the end is a bit calmer. But every song on this album is truly superb. Can black midi top this album, let's hope so?

King of Loss wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: King of Loss wrote: Just saw them play in Boston tonight. Very rowdy show. Loved every single bit of it as I was the very large mosh pit!  Hellfire is definitely my album of the year. Would have loved to have been there but currently in UK. How was the venue? Paradise Rock Club, right? I don't really like the sight lines there, seemed a very odd shape when I saw GYBE there. This is the second time I've seen them. The Paradise Rock Club is not my favorite venue, but they were great live. Probably would have preferred the Sinclair or something else.

I saw them on the previous tour at the Sinclair, much better venue.

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: King of Loss wrote: Just saw them play in Boston tonight. Very rowdy show. Loved every single bit of it as I was the very large mosh pit!  Hellfire is definitely my album of the year. Would have loved to have been there but currently in UK. How was the venue? Paradise Rock Club, right? I don't really like the sight lines there, seemed a very odd shape when I saw GYBE there.

Only one listen so far and it's not quite grabbing me as much as Cavalcade, but to be fair that album also took several listens before its beauty truly sank in with me so I'm expecting something similar to happen with this one. My favourite songs so far are "Sugar/Tzu" and "Welcome To Hell"

Just saw them play in Boston tonight. Very rowdy show. Loved every single bit of it as I was the very large mosh pit! 

Edited by King of Loss - July 21 2022 at 23:44

I've had a few listens, but need more time and listens where I'm not distracted. So far my impression is that I really like it and it has a lot of stuff going on that takes time to discover.