Hellfire

about this album

"Hellfire" is the third and final studio album by English rock/post-punk band black midi, released on 15 July 2022 through Rough Trade Records. Produced by Marta Salogni, who had previously worked with the band in recording the song "John L" from their second studio album, the album was preceded by the singles "Welcome to Hell", "Eat Men Eat", and “Sugar/Tzu”. "Hellfire" was written while the band was isolating in London, with singer Geordie Greep calling "Hellfire" "an epic action film if "Cavalcade" was a drama". He described the characters depicted in the album as being "scumbag. Almost everything I write is from a true thing, something I experienced and exaggerated and wrote down. I don't believe in Hell, but all that old world folly is great for songs." Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band debuted the majority of the "Hellfire" songs during their 2021–2022 tour in support of "Cavalcade". The bulk of the album was recorded in thirteen days, with additional members Kaidi Akinnibi (saxophone) and Seth Evans (keyboards) contributing to the recording process. Musically, "25 Years Later" labeled "Hellfire" an experimental rock album, with Beats Per Minute describing the album's sound as primarily comprising progressive rock, jazz fusion, and post-punk. Exclaim! saw black midi become jazz-rockers for "Hellfire", while DIY noted their use of art rock's pacing and precision. Alongside their prog stylings, cabaret, country, flamenco, and show tunes influences appear.

tracks

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