The Daily Spin, February 15
black midi | Hellfire
Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023.
Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite song from each album right here.
If you want to suggest an album, good news! You can do so right here!
Album: Hellfire (2022)
Artist: black midi
Link:
I feel, in many ways, like I’ve lived the same experience twice. I’ve been Groundhog Day-ed with yesterday’s album and this, but where Hellfire sets itself that little bit above our previous entry is in the production style.
Whereas New Hell felt like a droning and dragging mess, Hellfire is more precise and nimble, switching things up with the clarity and dexterity that has landed black midi critical acclaim - and though this album is not for me, I can see why it is loved.
There are brief moments of beauty in this album, but the nonsensical approach that’s taken with so many of these songs degrades their loveliness, oft to a point where it sort of feels like you’re stuck missing what made it so great, sort of like you sidling up to a dispersing conversation and laughing loudly at the inside joke that you weren’t there to get.
Rating: 6.7/10
Best Tracks: Still; The Defence
Worst Tracks: Eat Men Eat; Sugar/Tzu