Black Midi

Schlagenheim

The bombastic opener “953,” on Black Midi’s debut,does what an opening track should do. With glorious guitar-driven noise, screeching shifts, and general post-punk insanity, I was absorbed right away and wondered what was coming next. Adrenaline-producing and steeped in chaos, the Deerhoof-esque song sets the scene for the dense and charged numbers to come. Fans of complex movements and arrangements will appreciate this band’s style of energy.

The quartet of under-21 U.K. lads met at the BRIT school, a performing arts and tech institution in London. And, in their few short years together, have been drawing both crowds and hype for their ferocious live shows steeped in improvisation. That youthful energy and inventiveness shines throughout the complex Schlagenheim via their blistering two-guitar assault—joined by doom-kissed crooning and spoken word from guitarist/lead singer Geordie Greep and an incredibly tight, fierce rhythm section driven by drummer Morgan Simpson, whose time-dividing is spectacular. Fahrvergnügen!

Must-hear tracks: “953” and “Ducter”