When I Shoot at You with Arrows, I Will Shoot to Destroy You

Album review

For Micah P. Hinson day-trips to hell just don't cut it anymore. Between life and death, the Texan troubadour is wandering in purgatory, fascinated by all sorts of apocalyptic visions. He’s had a hard life: the unforgiving car accident mixed with drugs and other health problems... It's a wonder that his frail frame can still hold itself up. Has Micah P. Hinson made a deal with the devil? When I Shoot At You With Arrows, I Will Shoot To Destroy is a title filled with meaning for this charming, neuropathic and cyclical album. A husky, mature voice, raw country rock and a good dose of provocation, Hinson hurls himself into a macabre fairground alongside his four musicians of the apocalypse. The seven tracks, that average about five minutes apiece, build up some heavy tension. The last song, The Skulls of Christ, clocks in at longer than nine minutes and becomes a real mystical journey. Recorded in 24 hours in East Texas, Micah P. Hinson meets with the damned on this record and shows his dark humour. A unique songwriter, doleful poetry and hypnotic melodies: this is a visit to a world of charming chaos. © Clara Bismuth/Qobuz