Hellfire
by Black Midi

Black Midi's move towards jazz fusion creates a couple of new issues but opens up far more opportunities for one of the most exciting bands active today. From their debut, the group's technical ability has been beyond question and Hellfire is another doubling down on these talents. The force of tracks such as 'Hellfire', 'Sugar/Tzu' and 'Welcome to Hell' go beyond anything else you're likely to hear these days. Hearing this kind of power in this new genre and the instrumental choices it opens up show a new creative avenue that the band explore completely. Across these tracks Geordie Greep's vocals soar higher than ever before, with 'The Race is About to Begin' in particular showcasing a range of styles that aren't just technically proficient, but that sound great too. The two tracks that Cameron Picton lend vocals to are amongst the best here. 'Eat Men Eat' is wildly ambitious and manages to cram more into three minutes than you'll find in many albums, it somehow manages this without ever sounding rushed. 'Still' allows the band to explore an emotional range that Greep's vocals can't, it's another example of how effectively the record brings out the best in the band's individual members. I think the album might have had a nicer flow if there was just one more of these tracks on the second half of the record which is mostly stuck in the shadow of the earlier half, there's an almost breathless feel after 'The Race is About to Begin' like every idea's been exhausted. I definitely prefer Hellfire to the band's previous album Cavalcade, but would have liked to have seen something on this record match the bizarre intensity of a track like 'John L'. I've mentioned how successful the jazz fusion direction is across the record, but by the end it does seem to slightly dampen the experimental edge of the group. However, the constant shape shifting of the band's energy seems bound to lead to many more promising records in future. (Edited)

“Hellfire” is a fantastic refinement. The production quietness of “cavalcade” has been ironed out and tracks can be easily heard. While the instrumental style remains nearly the same, it’s been conceptualized. The tracks stop and start on each other without delay. The lyrics are focused on exploring the interconnected characters and world they’ve created. Hearing about the aftermath of “Welcome to hell” affecting a common character in “The Race Is About To Begin” is so rewarding as a listener. “Hellfire” also lives up to its name with the thematic reoccurrence of sin. The sins are reflective of the characters and the characters of the sins. The main weakness of the album is the tracks don’t stand the strongest on their own. They are all technically gifted but lack a groove or melody to remain in your consciousness after listening. Still, cohesive, explorative, and a welcome improvement

From Brad1770 11/28/2022 00:41 | #291607

Whoa this ones out there even by black midi out there standards. My brain is attuned to “regular” music and simply couldn't cope with this abstract piece. I’m sure there’s an appetite for this type of art but not me (Edited)

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Wildly experimental. You have to be in the mood to listen to it. I wasn't but I can't deny that they are really trying to do everything they can to not be boring and I give them massive credit for that. (Edited)