ALBUM REVIEW: Midnight Lightning – Roadwolf
Throughout the myriad sub-genres of heavy metal, it can often be difficult for a relative newcomer to muscle their way in and find a place in amongst the overwhelming number of acts all competing for attention. Some will try to out shock others either on stage or lyrically, others will develop riffs of such monolithic heaviness it’s a wonder that your face doesn’t turn inside out. What others do however, is simply show up and nail the basics. ROADWOLF’s 2020 debut Unchain The Wolf, showed that they had a handle on the tried and tested formula. The building blocks were there, a solid foundation of guitar, bass and drums delivering infectious riffs and groove-laced rhythms all the while backing up sing-along vocals. Falling into that traditional, denim and leather clad space of heavy metal, ROADWOLF have returned with follow up Midnight Lightning.
With the debut having a rough and ready attitude, Midnight Lightning builds on that and offers up a more bombastic, polished sound with a tightly packed riff-driven energy. On The Run launches out of the gate with pounding drums, slick bass runs and chopped guitars. It’s a head shaking foot stomper and no mistake. When Franz Bauer’s vocals kick in, the track takes off proper and the frantic energy it gives off is highly infectious. This buzz carries on unabated into the outrageously catchy title track. From the first chord to the last it’s a heavy metal showcase of riffs, searing solos, anthemic vocals and pummelling drums, all working together to deliver a standout moment on the album. It’s a defiant howl to the naysayers who would argue that the traditional heavy metal genre is long past its prime, that there’s nothing new and only legacy bands are worth the time.
Elsewhere, tracks like Mark Of The Devil and Running Out Of Time offer up the type of thunderous riffs and vocal hooks that could slip into any traditional metal line up and fit with ease. No matter where one turns on this album, it’s clear that ROADWOLF have absolutely nailed the stylistic brief of the NWOBHM-inspired sound. Production wise, it appears that the band have upped their game from the debut. While it was always sufficient, the mixing and production here comes across as more refined and polished. The rawness of the band’s style has been retained but there is an elevation to the overall sound that allows each track to fit together like perfectly sewn patch on a denim vest.
This album showcases that ROADWOLF are more than just a flash in the pan. The debut was good, Midnight Lightning is great. They’ve illustrated that they’ve not only got the basics down, they’re now in the business of honing the craft and producing tracks that will surely leave many of their peers green with envy. One could argue that their influences are a little too obvious, that occasional vocal melodies or riff structures fly a little close to the pastiche mark rather than creating something never heard before. While this may be true in certain places, the overall feeling and production of Midnight Lightning illustrates that there is more than just a strong pulse left in the body of traditional heavy metal. If ROADWOLF can keep up this kind of work they will become one of the main banner bearers for straight forward no-nonsense heavy metal.
Rating: 9/10
Midnight Lightning is set for release on May 19th via Napalm Records
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