We’d like to think that we’re one of the few reviewers out there able to imbibe the aptly titled “Hello Helles Lager” from Deep Cut in Medford while reviewing the new full length from Miracle Blood called, yep, Hello Hell. Does that make this review better than the others? We’d obviously like to think so but truth be told, when an album is as good as this one is it kinda writes itself regardless of what creative tools (Which we may or may not be definitely sipping on while typing) you bring to the table.
And yes, to be clear, Hello Hell is that good.
If you were ever wondering what it would sound like if Jello Biafra fronted Mutoid Man then Miracle Blood is your definitive answer! And look, we’re not saying that we need a replacement for Jello Biafra EVER but if the time came to choose a worthy successor of the singer of telling Nazi punks to fuck off then we could definitely see MB’s Andrew Wong in that role.
But that’s not the task at hand today! Today we’re talking all things Hello Hell, the newest, secondest, and maybe bestest Miracle Blood to date! If you’ve been following the trio of vocalist/guitarist Andrew Wong, bassist Garrett Young, and drummer Anthony Bollitier since MB’s inception in 2014 then this one’s for you! And if you’re just now discovering the Boston-based trio’s brand of sonic distortion then this one’s also for you! A culmination of all that’s come before, refined and refocused into the singular task of rattling your eardrums with some memorable music before exiting, Hello Hell is the kind of record that the suits might describe as “career defining”. We just think it’s fuckin’ rad.
“Oh My Lord!” is an ominous oratory with a sermon led by Wong that could serve as both a warning and a war cry as Bollitier’s drums and Young’s bass formulate an Unsane meets Melvins union followed by “Phenomenon” which just oozes cool and features the first of many a sick sing-a-long chorus with gang vocals made up of members of Sapling and BEDTIMEMAGIC, both of whom shared the stage with Miracle Blood at a recent record release party/beer drop at Deep Cuts (And who are both in need of your earholes if you aren’t already a fan).
“Pets and Owners” is a riveting Hard rawk opus with a robust rumble from Bollitier and iconic shredding out of Wong while “Lobotomizer” is the one that really brings to mind that aforementioned MM/Jello collab vibe especially with Wong’s powerful pipes purposefully puncturing through the intricate wall of Heavy erected. “Ghosts Marching Slow” is steered forward by Young’s lumbering low end with Wong’s screams acting as the perfect counterpoint and “Hello Hell” is everything one could ask out of a song that represents the record with a steady swaying of unrelenting LOUD broken up by a bursting chorus.
“Rather Be Nothing” (Perhaps named after the famous line from Bishop from Alien3, we thinks?) is a bombastic shredder and an all around riotous affair with Wong’s screams once again the icing on the cacophonous cake cooked by Young and Bollitier with the second coming of “Possum Kingdom” lighting up the beginning half of “I’m Not Complaining”before devolving into some Punk noisenik madness. “First You’ll Laugh…” is the beginning of the end of the record with Wong’s unhinged at-the-pulpit persona giving the performance of a lifetime while rounding out the record is “Prepare For Breakfast” that’s a blustery ball of big, bombastic everything with Wong as riff lord and range wrangler behind the mic, Bollitier delivering a dynamic dose of belligerent banging and Young offering up a relentless round of vicious vibrations.
Hello Hell arrives on November 15th and, chance are, if you already pre-ordered your vinyl copy through Nefarious Industries then you might already have it in hand (We have ours!) For the slackers, you can still head here, to the stream below, or here to pre-order and pre-save yours. For more from Miracle Blood, be sure to stay in the know via the band’s socials by clicking here, here, or here.