Evil Heat
by Primal Scream
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Nov 26, 2002
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Almost Cool
    65
    A letdown from the full-on intensity and imagination of their previous release.
  2. Billboard
    70
    Gillespie's lyrics will never win any Nobels, but the musical excitement generated here is impossible to deny.
  3. Dot Music
    80
    In many ways, 'Evil Heat' comes across as something of an amalgam of the Scream's many phases and, because of that, it doesn't necessarily take them forward as their work in the past has done.
  5. Ink Blot Magazine
    80
    Where Kraftwerk, MC5, and Miles Davis used to tempt them to excess, here the production unites their diverse influences, every track attacking the speakers like an angry lunatic thrashing against the walls of a poorly soundproofed room.
  6. Mixer
    70
    Ultimately, Evil Heat is more evocative than innovative, but why rewrite the book when it's already a compelling read. [Dec 2002, p.80]
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  7. Mojo
    80
    Less conceptually pure than its predecessor in terms of tone and motivation it may be, but Evil Heat's bespoke tailoring pays dividends time and time again. [Aug 2002, p.94]
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  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    A clear progression from 1997's broody 'Vanishing Point' and 2000's abrasive 'Xtrmntr', the seventh Primals album is genuinely their most diverse and consistently thrilling since 'Screamdelica'.
  9. Playlouder
    100
    No great leaps of faith, no huge style shifts, just more of what we've come to love them for. But a bit more laid back and, erm, druggy? If that's at all possible.
  10. Spin
    80
    Dark, electroshocked eighth album from Brit rock's premier party people. [Jan 2003, p.99]
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  11. Stylus Magazine
    79
    Not quite the apocalyptic inverse Screamadelica that XTRMNTR was, it’s still a damn site more radical, experimental and dangerous than anything produced by any other mainstream rock band this year.
  12. Uncut
    70
    Evil Heat doesn't exactly break new ground and often amounts to, strictly speaking, little more than pastiche. [Aug 2002, p.104]
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  13. Village Voice
    80
    Their catchiest, most compelling record yet.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. KidA
    May 13, 2006
    7
    Ooh baby, do it again, ooh baby, come on baby do it again Skull X, City, and Detroit are amazing Everything else is decent
  2. rexj
    Dec 10, 2002
    6
    keep thinking it'll grow on me but its hard to get past the overall lack of puch. should have called it 'safty dance.' but i keep thinking it'll grow on me but its hard to get past the overall lack of puch. should have called it 'safty dance.' but i have a sincere feeling that they mean well. maybe next time...… Full Review »
  3. Bruno
    Aug 18, 2002
    10
    Another masterpiece! 'XTRMNTR' was great but these records ('Vanishing Point' & 'Evil Heat') set real benchmarks!
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