Album Review: Mogwai – The Bad Fire

[Rock Action/Temporary Residence; 2025]

The early weeks of 2025, at the official beginning of the middle of this decade – Scotland’s Mogwai release their 11th studio album The Bad Fire to usher in the soundtrack of a year that promises to bring us all equal time reflecting and looking forward.

2025 is the 30th anniversary for the band; a milestone for any group that’s mostly based in instrumental songs and complex soundscapes, a band whose career has been consistent musically while also consistently catching onto the mainstream. 2021’s release As The Love Continues saw it gain the top position on the UK chart. It’s almost as if Mogwai have always been ahead of their time, eventually the time’s caught up with them. During the isolation of Covid lockdowns, it seems Mogwai rose to become a comfort for many. 

The Bad Fire could have risen to that occasion just as well. It’s Mogwai once again doing what they’ve always done best; a celebration and collective of ideas combined with careful crafted sounds that invoke a surge of thoughts and emotion. There’s never a question of if the music will make you feel something; it’s a question of what you’ll feel and when – without a gauge of how hard it’s going to hit you.

I recommend headphones. Give yourself the opportunity to channel everything else about the world out. Disassociate. Hyper-fixate on every sound you hear. If you’re the type of person who looks for replayability, you’ll be kept entertained for hours and still finding secrets. Better yet – you’ll never be able to repeat every note.

There’s the signature armory of invasive sounds, as expected. Delivering pleasing melodies over massive swells of soundscape. It’s clear individually every member of the band were expressing some emotion. As a listener, you don’t have any obligation to feel anything, but there’s a demand for a certain level of empathy with the instrumentation. Not one you can hear or describe, but it’s certainly one you can hear. 

For returning fans, the first few seconds might have you questioning. Mogwai, is that you? Yes, it is you. There’s that swell in the sea of sound. The first track “God Gets You Back” begins with a ripple that brings you neck deep and fully aware you’re moments away from being submerged in the depths below. A voice will greet you, and give you a short tour before leaving you to sink a bit further, leaving more than the impression there’s more to be explored. 

“What Kind Of Mix Is This?” cheekily starts with the title. It’s so out of context, it’s difficult not to conjure your own in these four minutes. In classic Mogwai fashion, there’s that daunting build. Sitting on top of a rather busy bassline – it’s easy to picture yourself running in slow motion, center city, grey, drizzly day while this is playing.

The latest single prior to release “Fanzine Made Of Flesh” begins with some serious sugar. It’s not often the chord they strike is a happy one, but it thugs a smile. It’s not often I’d use the word ‘fun’ to describe one of their songs, but this one is full of radio-friendly potential – even a contender to find itself on some ‘summer fun’ playlists. 

A long-time listener will likely pick up on similarities or themes throughout their albums. “Pale Vegan Hip Pain” has a few signature Mogwai tricks, most notably the beauty in the short, clean and simple guitar lead that just acts a tip-toe through yet another layer of depth in the sea of sound. If you’re already a fan, there’s a comforting familiarity here. 

“If You Find This World Bad, You Should See Some Of The Others” is bound to be a lot of people’s favorite on this album. Again, catching you at the gate with the title on this one; it’s long and wordy, destined to draw your attention. The song itself densely packed in the second half, making its nearly seven-and-a-half minute run seem like the shortest song on the album, despite it being the longest. 

“18 Volcanoes” is a fever dream. You can feel a montage of influence appreciation from My Bloody Valentine, solid walls of distortion pairing with dreamy soft spoken vocals. Emphasis on the soft spoken, there’s no whisper. Charming 80s-inspired synth sounds satisfy anyone with a taste for new wave. A whistle section to give a temporary Peter Gabrielle setting feels like wind lightly gusting around you. There’s nothing wrong with wearing influences on your sleeve; “18 Volcanoes” is wearing influences as a jacket, creating a special kind of warmth.

The first single released in October of 2024 “Lion Rampus” happens to be my personal favorite. Not a knock, nor a spoiler. Second last place on the track list is the perfect placement. I knew it was coming the entire first listen. If phaser effects happen to be your thing, you’re really going to enjoy the ride. Interestingly enough, this one has the opposite effect of “If You Find This World Bad, You Should See Some Of The Others”, in which, despite being the shortest song on the album, it feels like it’s the longest. 

The album closes on another happy, familiar ‘oh, that’s Mogwai’ song. A well-done closer is often simply indicates a proper ending. Not leaving you expecting more. Not leaving you on any sort of musical cliffhanger. Even if you weren’t paying attention to the tracklist, the moment this song begins it announces it as the closer. A slow paced walk around the perimeter of any and all thoughts and emotions that’s been inevitably brought up throughout the listen. 

After 30 years, Mogwai’s music has more than a presence. Spend a full day with them and you might start describing it as more of an entity. That’s what they’ve grown to become, and The Bad Fire gives plenty of more ground to walk with and more layered depths to explore. It’s likely to stake some real estate in plenty of rotations worldwide, for those hoping for a follow up to 2021’s As The Love Continues that delivers on the same level. It’s ready for you. 

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