MIDNIGHT – Sweet Death And Ecstasy CD

Cleveland’s Midnight is as sure to keep pioneering blackened speed metal as they are to fill their artworks with satanic lesbian orgies (Now there’s a band name for ya). Sweet Death and Ecstasy provides much of the same Venom-inspired mayhem as its two predecessors but it adds some some tweaks to the established formula. While Midnight’s experiments may not as wild as their stage shows, the results are refreshing while being as entertaining as ever.

Overall, Midnight’s third album sees the band staying fresh by incorporating more variety into their savage presentation. Despite a noticeable focus on slower tempos, it remains as concise as ever and responds to any sellouts accusations with a punch in the face that’s just as lethal as the ones that came before it. If you’re a fan of Venom or Saxon that still hasn’t seen the Satanic Royalty at work, I’d definitely give this one a listen.