GIG REVIEW: Midnight / Night Demon @ New Cross Inn (London, UK)

After a few years since Midnight graced London’s “The Dome”, another killer show to remember, it was a saddening defeat to see Manorfest cancelled at the last minute. Thankfully, Route One Bookings and Real Life Presents saved the day and brought the Cleveland horde to the capital for a night to remember…

Opening the show was British Death Metal legion Overthrow whose Covenant era Morbid Angel grooves and Incantation like cavernous atmosphere with some Black and Thrash Metal flare was a weird choice for the lineup, but a marvellous one. I hadn’t heard a note from this band before but their tightness live was gripping, the songwriting was impressive and they had a good delivery too. With enough technicality to impress without venturing into boring progressive waffle, the band kept the modest but eager audiences attention for their short set. The relentless double kick attack and swirling riffs were met with some nicely varied vocals, showing underground British Death Metal hungry for carnage and definitely deserving of their opening spot for the night.

Next up, California’s Night Demon are one of those bands who feel perfect to watch in London. Their American take on NWOBHM was sublime with frontman Jarvis’ thunderous bass tones and melodic voice playing gloriously off their lead axeman with a double Flying V artillery to add to the classic feeling of the show. Though often sticking to a core of a rock beat, the drummers cymbal play and generally ludicrously hard-hitting performance ensure that the power trio had a huge sound, nearly bringing the rafters down. No gimmicks, no down-tuning or abundance of effects, just pure Heavy Metal played to blinding effect. Attributing a song to their idols Thin Lizzy (along with a cover of the Irish legends) gained even more rapturous excitement from the crowd, while their anthemic tracks all enclosed just as much passion and energy. This is a band to sing along, pump your fist and bang your head, a magically old school experienced delivered by clearly seasoned musicians of superb calibre.

Headliners Midnight don’t mess around, barrelling onto the stage with Vanik jumping straight onto his cab, Athenar attacking a projector (and some of the front row in lieu) and SS caving in drums like they’d insulted him. Running rabid with a glorious mix of tracks from across their entire discography, the frustrations of delays at the airport were freed in the form of utter carnage. Playing to a crowd of (estimated) 350-400 maniacs, in a densely packed venue despite normally playing far bigger shows was not below this band, whose fury and energy entranced the crowd of maniacs watching. I did not witness a single soul standing still or looking disinterested, the whole room moved with audience ferocity and sonic upheaval alike. New tracks like “Scex Witchery” sat alongside fan-favourites such “Satanic Royalty”, “Evil Like A Knife” and “You Can’t Stop Steel” with ease, showing a band whose quality has never dwindled. This band pummel their instruments with pure rage while not letting the songs quality soften, hitting each track like a freight train while adrenaline runs, quite literally, across the entire stage and through the veins of the entire room and into the buildings very foundations. Just when the show couldn’t have gotten any better for this particular maniac on the frontline, after their last track Vanik just gave me his guitar, hoisted me over his shoulders and let me make a racket with the band. While I cannot be objective here because a) I was having the time of my life and B) I couldn’t hear myself over Athenar and SS tearing the place down, I can say it made an already perfect night the best of my life. Regardless of this anecdote, Midnight remain not only the strongest live band out there, but also one of the best Heavy Metal bands of my generation (well not themselves, they’re old bastards, but in terms of active period). This night was indeed a “Rebirth by Blasphemy” that showed “Savage Dominance” and a truly “Rabid” crowd. Enough references, go listen to Midnight or better yet see them live!