Foo Fighters

Medicine At Midnight

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Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Grunge.
Released: 05/02/2021
Via RCA

Album Review: Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight

Foo Fighters are back with their long-awaited tenth studio album. The album opens with ‘Making A Fire’, the track instantly lures you in with a good beat, and distorted guitars. The song features some gospel-style singing between these big guitar riffs, the chorus also features some nice humming complimenting Dave’s voice very well.

The first single the band released for this album had me worried, thankfully ‘Shame Shame’ is my least favourite song from the album, meaning there’s a lot more here for me to enjoy. It’s really repetitive and simplistic, leading it to be a song that’s just boring to listen to. The song is formed of a bunch of off-beat clicking and clapping, with a lacklustre bassline.

‘Cloudspotter’ reminds me of Stereophonics ‘Take Me’ with it’s distorted harmonious voices. The drumming track features of cowbells, amid guitars, on an off beat nature. It’s funky, and sounds very 70’s. On ‘Waiting On A War’ Dave’s voice is atop an acoustic guitar backed by some violins. The song starts off slow before building up to an explosion of sound. A good track.

The title track feels very David Bowie esq, with Dave’s voice wisping atop a strong bassline, before launching into a memorable big chorus. The song is funky, and features some big riffs that sound like they’re from a classic rock song. Just like the previous track ‘No Son Of Mine’ wears its influences with pride, screaming with Motörhead vibes, the song is fast-paced, throwing fast riffs, and quick drumming into your ears. I imagine it would be great to mosh to (When we get back to live music).

‘Holding Poison’ will feel very familiar to anyone who’s listened to the band previously, the track has some nice garage rock elements. I love the drumming from Taylor Hawkins on this track. The track’s chorus reminds me a little bit of ‘Monkey Wrench’. The song does have an out of character moment around the three-minute mark, with its guitar solo that features gospel type singing backing it, it feels like it’s tying itself back to the first track ‘Making A Fire’.

‘Chasing Birds’ slows down the album into a peaceful ballad. The soft rock makes a nice contrast between tracks, and whilst the song takes its time, it doesn’t become boring. The album closes with ‘Love Dies Young’ a bouncy track with a great chorus. The song is probably the most familiar “Foo” sounding track on the album. The track finishes the album off well.

The album becomes the band’s shortest to date, coming in at only 36 minutes, leaving me wanting a little more from it. Despite it’s short runtime the album is full of great tracks, many of which – I believe – will over time join the Foo Fighters many classic tunes as the best they’ve ever put out, with lots also feeling like they’d be better to hear live. True arena anthems.