_edited.png)
9.5/10
The London-based rock band "black midi" is back with a new album, shortly following their 2021 release 'Cavalcade', and the fact that it comes only a year after, yet contains so much quality, is shockingly wonderful.
The album starts off insanely strong, with the carnival-sounding intro title track "Hellfire". This is quickly followed by one of the best songs on the album, "Sugar/Tzu". The drums on this track are so well done, it's flooded with inhuman arpeggios, and the vocals are so goofy yet gorgeous. The horn breaks on this track also add a unique flavorful touch. This track beautifully transitions into the calm yet chaotic track "Eat Men Eat". The percussion and all-around production on this track are hypnotically fast-paced, slowing down into a beautiful moment of acoustic guitar, and picking up yet again, this time with drums to back it up, ending with an immense sound of energy, almost sounding like an anxiety attack. "Welcome to Hell" continues the chaos with a marvelous build-up that collapses into this gorgeous instrumental breakdown of horns and subtle drums, quickly picked up by more vocal delivery.
There is a brief moment of calm in the album with the track "Still", which I felt like didn't fully fit the direction the album seemed to be headed in, but this track is so beautiful it honestly doesn't even matter. The track changes into this pretty and simplistic acoustic ballad with a superb layer of strings and environmental sound effects; incredibly relaxing to listen to.
"The Race Is About To Begin" is one hell of a track. It's like a whole production. Insanely theatrical, funny, and amazingly chaotic. The vocal performance on this track is so well done and uniquely grand. This isn't a song, but an experience.
"Dangerous Liaisons" unfortunately didn't stick with me. I felt like it was blander than the tracks before it; the bar was too high at this point. However, "The Defence" shortly follows this track, and it's a beautiful song that sounds a bit folk-like but also has that classic black midi unique rock sound. It's one of the calmer songs on the project.
The closing track, "27 Questions", is another theatrical masterpiece. The storytelling is vivid and the piano adds this chaotic touch to the track; there's nothing you can do but laugh in amazement. Near the end of the track, Greep shows off his beautiful rich chest voice, which is the cherry on top for me.
This album is a listening experience. This is not something you can turn on in the background and let run. You HAVE to be present to truly enjoy it. Every note, vocal, and word on this album hits you. It's truly something special.
Comments