One of the best things about being a fan of underground music is the feeling of excitement that comes when a band you love announces a new album from out of nowhere. It's nice to know you have something to look forward to in a year or two when a popular band like Carcass announces they've started writing new music, but waking up to news that a wicked awesome cult act is releasing a new album in 3 months is an instant pick-me-up. So imagine my delight when I found out the other day that Cleveland's masters of black/punk sleaze, Midnight, are dropping a new LP on August the 19th. And they've posted not one, but two new tracks on their Bandcamp page as well!
Maybe you haven't heard of Midnight because you're too busy listening to boring bands like Whitechapel and Black Label Society; well, now's the time to rectify that situation. Midnight have been around for a decade, steadily churning out splits and EPs crammed with consistently awesome blackened rock 'n roll that sounds like a sloppier, more diabolical version of Motorhead. Back in 2011 they released their full length debut, titled Satanic Royalty, on Hell's Headbangers Records and have been steadily touring the country ever since. Now these filthy reprobates are back with their sophomore album No Mercy For Mayhem.
If your curiosity still isn't piqued after seeing the sweet-ass album art posted above and reading my concise but informative history of the band, take six minutes to listen to the two new songs Midnight has graciously made available to the listening public. Both songs, "Evil Like a Knife" and "The Final Rape of Night," are classic Midnight – driving anthems about Satan and violence delivered to your ears at warp speed. If you're still not a convert after listening to these tracks, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe it's time for you to abandon metal and start listening to Mumford & Sons. The rest of you, the cool people who listen to good music, should mark August 19th down on your calender and start saving up your allowance.
