Apoch's Metal Review - Midnight: Satanic Royalty CD Review

Discography	Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed.
Full-Length(s):	Satanic Royalty (2011)
EP(s):	Midnight (2003) • Slay the Spits (2007) • Farewell to Hell (2008)
Split(s):	Outbreak of Evil Vol. 2 (2005) • Trejano Tour March 6-7 2010 (2010) • Farewell to Metal Slut (2010) • Japanese Benefit (2011)
Single(s):	Midnight (2004)
Compilation(s):	Complete and Total Fucking Midnight (2005) • Berlin in Burning (2009)
Live CD(s):	Violates You Live! (2007)

Review

Midnight is a Black Metal and Speed Metal act from Cleveland, Ohio that formed back in 2003. Over the years, the group has stuck well to the underground, issuing a number of split and EP efforts in the years that followed their formation. The closest to a bigger label the band seems to have come to was their contribution to the Relapse Records Japanese Benefit vinyl EP with Toxic Holocaust, and perhaps shed a little more light to this group thanks to that band's popularity. But, among those who know, Midnight is an old school blackened act of fury and intensity that's worth taking note of. But after all their smaller releases, is the band ready for their debut full-length album Satanic Royalty through Hell's Headbangers, or is this a field they simply shouldn't touch?

Given the varying atmospheres of the label's previous releases, Satanic Royalty is not that surprising as far as the quality goes. The music is generally aggressive which is aided by a rougher sound, though far from raw. The cymbols of the drum kit chime loudly and clearly through the mud of the other instruments with the snares echoing nicely against the thudding bass kicks that are a bit drowned out in the mix sadly by the loud, driving guitars. The distortion here does give them that early Speed or Thrash Metal distorted edge with a muddier sound to them that compliments the old school sound of the ground, adding a blunt force to the trauma the band hopes to issue on the listener. This is enforced nicely with the loud, pounding bass guitar and it's deep notes really taking command over the guitar and making more of an impact then simply being about the same level and following the guitars as a meager back up instrument to give it that slightly deeper sound. Midnight have it right here, aside for the kicks in the faster, more energetic tracks like "Savage Dominance."

While the album does have a strong Black Metal presence with an early Speed Metal sound, there's also a good dose of Punk fused into some of the tracks that gives off a notable Motorhead influence and general similar energetic performance on many tracks that come off this way. Even those that don't come off with as strong a Punk input are simply energy riddled musical assaults that pound away at the listener from the moment they start, which is actually not how Satanic Royalty kicks things off with it's title track. The introduction of voices talking backwards with a haunting organ introduction works well for the slower paced and catchier early Black Metal song that works up a very creepy atmosphere enhanced by the harsh rhaspy vocals that better fit a darker Thrash album as the energetic input to these often reach shouting levels. This is how much of the album sounds vocally, and regardless of the sound there's always a great range and large amount of energy into the performance. You immediately feel that Midnight is having fun playing music they are genuinely proud of, and there's no reason they should feel any less pride then they do given the quality of the material found here.

This is really the only time the music takes a dominantly Black Metal approach though, and while it does this with ease and sets the perfect atmosphere, the rest of the album does a good job at amping up the intensity. "Rip This Hell" does have a bit of the same foundation, though it largely keeps a stronger Punk sound then anything else amid catchy, intense Speed Metal riffs. This gives off the similar creepy atmosphere of "Satanic Royalty," but at the same time makes the track generally feel a lot more fun and makes you want to dance or mosh to it right where you stand. But then you have the more serious efforts like "Necromania" which are strong offerings that don't quite hold the same amount of energy to them, but generally feel darker in comparison and still are solid performances.

But the real meat of the album kicks in with "Lust Filth and Sleaze." This song, and many other that follow, are simply audio assaults to the listener, chiming in with a strong Black meets Speed Metal sound that uncompromisingly intense, but at the same time rather fun and like "Rip This Hell" makes you want to start a mosh right on the spot. "Violence on Violence" is another track worth taking note of, showcasing the more aggressive side of the band with that classic Speed Metal sound of classic acts like Exciter. The speed and intensity brought into this track is not surprising given it's two minute and five second length, and it's rather sad that such a strong, energy driven track ends so soon, but it's definitely for the best and keeps in with the general concepts of the style.

There's a great deal of variety to the material of Satanic Royalty, and Midnight do an impressive job at maintaining a general sound to it that keeps the atmosphere stable from one song to the next. With the Toxic Holocaust split out there, this ushers in more listeners as potential fans of the group, and when you sit down with this album, you can even argue that this group is far more intense, fun, and overall enjoyable then that group who happens to have live ties to this group as well. Overall, the more serious tracks at the start of the album are not the greatest, but the rest of the material is simply spectacular and well worth checking out this album if you're fan of this breed of Metal, or even the releases of Hell's Headbangers in the past.

Digital review copy of this release provided by:
Hell's Headbangers.

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