Hellfire

Released

I remember watching a video for Hellfire’s first explosive single, the wartime beatdown of “Welcome To Hell” and seeing a YouTube comment that — i’m paraphrasing — said that Black Midi were the kind of band who were either gonna burn out now on album three, or go on and live forever. Hellfire makes the case for both arguments; a relentless journey through dark alleys, boxing-rings-as-murder-scenes, racetracks, and live readings of wills before one explodes in front of a captive audience. Throughout it all the breakneck musical chops of the band — the auctioneer patter of singer/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Geordie Greep, the fluttering bass of Cameron Picton, and the jet engine drumming of Morgan Simpson — cut through the viscera with Zorn-like technical prowess, and a deep love for playing with with every imaginable sound.

Amelia Riggs