10 Best Rock Music Album Openers Of The 2020s So Far
5. John L - Cavalcade (Black Midi)
Chances are you'll know if you like black midi within the first five seconds of listening to them. Fusing elements of jazz, prog, math rock, and post punk, this group of London lads sound like nobody else out there, which you will either love or hate.
They burst onto the scene with 2019's Schlagenheim and have been very busy boys ever since. They've put out two albums this decade thus far, but the one with the best opener is 2021's Cavalcade.
The track is called John L, although no one's quite sure why, and is about a cult leader-type figure who wields incredible powers over his followers until they turn on him one day and kill him.
John L is a whirlwind from start to finish. Rapid guitars and drums are meshed with speak-singing from Geordie Greep, as he describes the leader's plight. It's not a conventional song by any stretch, but the way it plays around with form and structure will leave you on the edge of your seat.
And this is just the first song! The rest of the album only gets weirder!