INTERVIEW: Midnight

MIDNIGHT, the Black-Speed inferno of pure malevolence has recently unleashed their fourth album “Rebirth By Blasphemy” since signing a new contract in blood with Metal Blade Records! I had a chat with main-maniac Athenar.

1. Midnight isn’t exactly a new name for most of us, a seemingly legendary name in the underground. Which brings in my first question, do you think there is a reason why despite a huge following Midnight still retains that underground flame, never feeling like you have compromised the music? Especially signing to a huge label like Metal Blade, there really is a niche feel to the release which was present on the first 3 records and all the other releases.

Yeah it’s strange but I’m very ok with that fact. I will continue to go about music the way I always have. I know no other way!

2. After extensive musical history with bands as highly regarded as Destructor for example, do you feel there is something special about how Midnight allows you to focus your sole energy into a solo project wherein you have total control of the songwriting and execution of the music?

Yes it’s very special to me because it’s the songs exactly the way I want to hear them with no compromise. There’s good and bad points to being a solo band but there are also good and bad points to everything.

3. From 2003’s formation up until 2011’s hugely popular “Satanic Royalty” there was never any full lengths, which I believe was an active choice, but why was this?

Mainly because I was of the opinion that bands coming from the NWOBHM and early black/thrash era best releases were always eps and singles. Once they released a full length album it usually turned to shit. This is obviously not the case with all bands but it was something just to give me a reason to stay lazy and not record a full length lp, haha!

4. “Rebirth By Blasphemy” has just dropped to a hugely positive wave of feedback, do you feel anything has changed drastically since “Sweet Death And Ecstasy” aside from the record label unleashing it?

No I don’t feel anything has changed too much. It’s still just me hanging out in a basement jamming riff and writing stupid lyrics then going into a friends studio to record them. It’s a simple process and I prefer it that way.

5. As many of us know you are a huge fan of NWOBHM and early Speed Metal, do you find more enjoyment in listening to these classic releases or also checking out modern underground acts? Perhaps some of each?

Being that I’m very stubborn I usually go and listen to the same stuff I’ve listened to since I was a child. There are some really good bands out there now doing that style rather well. Probably better than the originals but as with a lot of music it’s the nostalgia element that makes you want to listen to Sodom and Angel Witch.

6. I mentioned “Satanic Royalty” earlier which is unanimously loved in the Metal world. Was that a really hard album to follow? I think there is something really cool about all Midnight records with their gritty sleaze and the songwriting has definitely grown with time, but I wonder if that album was such an impressive debut the president was stressful to match?

Well thanks but no I’ve never really worried about trying to “outdo” any record or song. Once you start doing that you make up stuff that really isn’t natural. I’ll make reference to the terminator movie, part 1 is one of my favorite movies ever, then T2 was just an attempt to take things way over the top and it stunk!

7. Every Midnight fan on the planet will recognise your garb of hood, bullet belt, leather jacket and also the black mask. Is there a reason you adopted this Speed Metal executioner aesthetic to conceal your identity or was it more a case of it just looking superb for the musical style?

Well it was an easy way to keep things a bit concealed and to give a bit of a look. Otherwise it would just be my ugly face in a pair of jeans, sneakers and a Judas Priest shirt.

8. Finally I feel in this interview it is a must that I ask what’s coming next? Midnight has never been shy of touring or releasing, so is there going to bigger things coming in the live world soon or do you wish to continue doing things how they are, or mixing the two?

Well for now who knows what’s in store for the world as we are in the middle of covid19. But i’m just finishing up recording a new album which I think sounds pretty good so far. Just looking forward to getting out and getting filthy doing some fucking gigs!!

So there we have it, Athenar was allowed to leave his basement of records and debauchery and I am grateful to him for using this freedom to talk! If you don’t know Midnight, check them out. If you do (or even if not), I hope this interview gave some insight into Athenar’s crazy world and musical blasphemies. Speed on!