Dear MorbidZine followers, it’s been almost a year since I last wrote an album review. As I ease back into writing again, I originally planned to cover a new release—but instead, I’ve decided to kick things off with a record that’s not exactly new, but not too old either. More precisely, an EP. Midnight.
What would it sound like if Motörhead played satanic rock’n’roll? Venom, maybe? Now imagine combining those two, throwing in some Hellhammer-style riffing, and laying it all down on a d-beat/hardcore punk foundation. That’s essentially the formula behind Midnight. This is a band that fully embraces filth—they proudly describe themselves as “unholy & rotten.” Formed in 2003 in the U.S., they mix d-beat and speed metal with a hellish atmosphere and sinful lyrics. They’ve released various splits, EPs, and compilations, and their debut full-length Satanic Royalty is due out this year on Hells Headbangers. But for now, let’s take a look back at the sins and sacrificial offerings these midnight demons unleashed three years ago.
What we have here are six blasphemous tracks blending punk, rock’n’roll, and speed/black metal. The standouts for me are Black Rock’n’Roll and Vomit Queens, though honestly, the entire EP is solid and deserves to be viewed as a cohesive whole. As mentioned earlier, each track oozes the influence of Motörhead, Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory, and even Discharge at times. You’ll hear filthy, rabid vocals that straddle the line between speed/thrash, punk, and first wave black metal. The riffing—raw, hellish, and reminiscent of Hellhammer—is the true highlight of the guitars, while the solos clearly carry the spirit of Fast Eddie, albeit darker and grittier.
Lyrically, Midnight glorifies Satan, hellfire, and lust—especially toward women. It’s a perfect thematic blend of black metal depravity and rock’n’roll sleaze, and it meshes seamlessly with the music. To wrap it up without rambling: if you worship Motörhead, Venom, and the first wave of black metal, and if you're craving a dose of rock’n’roll wrapped in dark, doomy, punk-tinged black metal, then Midnight is exactly what you need.