Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Midnight Idols Nightrulers Company: Indy Release: 2008 Reviewer: EC Genre: Traditional

Takes a non-serious spin on the 80s vintage sound

This Seattle band really caught my ear back in 2006 with their debut release "We Rule The Night". The band established early in their recording career that they were old school denim and leather through and through. The group's 80s intense riffs and songwriting recalled those old vinyl releases on Ebony and Combat back in the day. Since the band's debut they have added former Bitter End guitarist Russ Stefanovich as well as a new bass player and production assistant. The street metal band now unleash their newest metal barrage aptly titled "Nightrulers".

This recording took place in the band's hometown courtesy of Chroma Sound. In the day and age of digital overload it is very odd to hear a true anaolog recording. "Nightrulers" was recorded using this 2" method and the sound is extremely fat and fuzzy but still missing that one little nugget of vinyl history...the crisp sound of white noise. This recording is amazing to hear on disc and really hammers home the point I made above that this band would have fit perfectly on that Ebony Records roster back in 1982.

Beyond just the production values here, Midnight Idols is very comfortable playing 1982 riffs. This creates a dilemna for the band as well as the listener. One being any seasoned metal fan worth his salt has heard these riffs and song structures a hundred times over from bands all over the world through the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. One can easily hear Ostrogoth, Grim Reaper, and Omen on tracks like "Torch The Sky" and "Nymphonomicon". On the other hand is the band's possible appeal to the new generation of metal militia that are very pleased by what they perceive as something new and refreshing. Take a look at today's third generation thrash movement (Municipal Waste, Hatchet, Toxic Holocaust) and the legions of fans that buy their shirts and tickets. That sound was made famous at the same time the Nintendo Entertainment System introduced "Duck Hunt".

Midnight Idols takes a non-serious spin on the 80s vintage sound and follows up on the band's fun debut. It is extremely entertaining and downright addictive, but the end result is something that must be looked at as simply a re-imagining of prior guts and glory. Recommended for fans of Zero Down, Valient Thor, Tokyo Dragons, and newer Alabama Thunderpussy.