BY CHAD BOSWELL
Staff Writer
On July 15th, 2022, Math rock and jazz fusion English band Black Midi released their third studio album titled “Hellfire” and it might be one of the best albums released in the 2020s decade. This record was released just this year following up their two other amazing records Schlagenheim and Calvacade which really constructed the sound that black midi would be using for Hellfire and let me say that the sound and quality on this record sounds like a mixture of their previous work into one. Black midi is a band that originated in London back in 2017 consisting of unique and outstanding vocalist Geordie Greep but also amazing drummers and guitarists which are Morgan Simpson, Cameron Picton, and Matt Kwaniewski-Kelvin. All of these members are amazing and especially Geordie Greep who has such beautiful vocals it really makes the instrumentals come to life.
Hellfire is a very chaotic record and that is really shown in the first track titled “Hellfire” which starts with this marching band type of sound and a very war-like sound to it but also these chaotic vocals and crazy instrumentals which really applies to the whole vibe that Hellfire gives as an album. The second track deserves to be talked about as well which is titled “Sugar/Tzu” it starts off slow but then like halfway through just hits you like a truck and there are these rapid instrumentals followed by of course the man himself Geordie Greep’s amazing vocal performance. The way Greep’s voice sounds just makes listening to this record a whole different experience and it’s honestly just so interesting how he makes certain words sound.
Some of the best tracks from this album are “Hellfire, Sugar/Tzu, Eat men eat, Still, and Dangerous Liaisons”. However there is one track from this album that stands out to me the most and I feel like it deserves its own spotlight it is titled “The Defence” and let me tell you, this is one of my favorite songs of all time and I suggest literally everyone to listen to it, this song sounds like your at a jazz restaurant in Paris and your listening to this song, I can not express how good this song is and it is the best Black midi song I absolutely love The Defence.
Overall I would give Hellfire by Black midi a 9/10. There are just some tracks that don’t appeal to me that much but definitely have very good highs that make up for the lows.