MIDNIGHT

Steel, Rust And Disgust

The one-man gang known as Athaner continues to wow fans with more material hot on the heels of last year’s highly successful full-length album Hellish Expectations. This follow-up, Steel, Rust And Disgust, is a cover song offering featuring two brand-new tracks. What I love about Midnight is their dedication to their fans, constantly releasing new material and touring relentlessly. Athaner is quoted as saying, “I wanted to record some songs by bands that share the same sights, sounds, and sewage of my region of birth.” He also urges fans to check out the original versions: “If you want to transform into a total fucking slime ball, that is.”

The first track is a brand new original called ‘Cleveland Metal’, a filthy, Motörhead-esque song that rips right through your body. It’s sure to be a killer addition to their live set. ‘Iron Beast’ (Kratos cover) follows a fast, heavy mix of punk and speed metal. ‘I’m Insane’ (Synastryche cover) shifts into a more NWOBHM vibe with phenomenal guitar work. ‘Final Solution’ (Rocket From The Tombs cover) is a sleazy, dark punk offering loaded with bass and is one of my favourites. ‘Frenzy’ (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover) is a speedy track that kills, with Athaner’s snarl making the song wholly his own. ‘Child Eaters’ (Rubber City Rebels cover) features evil punk vocals and a hilarious spoken word section, instantly cementing it as a classic.

‘3rd Generation Nation’ (Dead Boys cover) is another standout punk track and a personal favourite; Midnight adds a new dimension and absolutely rips through it. ‘Rock N’ Roll Fever’ (David Allen Coe cover) was unfamiliar to me, but this version is so cool I’ll be checking out the original. ‘Carrions Keep’ (False Hope cover) is a super heavy thrash/crossover banger that sounds fantastic. ‘Black Leather Rock’ (Electric Eels cover) comes from a proto-punk band from Ohio that only played five public shows but was hugely influential in the scene. The second original, ‘Steel, Rust And Disgust’, is a wicked, sleazy, aggressive track that echoes the raw power of Motörhead, and it’s one of the reasons I’m such a Midnight fan. The final track, ‘Agitated’ (also by Electric Eels), closes the album with late-’70s sleaze, channelling the very tone that shaped Midnight’s sound. What a way to end the record.

This album showcases Midnight’s unwavering dedication to the metal/punk movement while giving fans a deeper look into Athaner’s influences. With the two new tracks woven between a set of handpicked covers, Steel, Rust And Disgust is a powerful blend of past and present. A must-listen for fans of traditional, punk, or thrash metal and deserves to be played at eleven!