The excellent Tysondog return with a superb new album – Midnight – and show us that the New Wave of British Heavy Metal remains as relevant today in 2022 as it was back in the early 1980s.
Back then, Tysondog released a couple of albums and looked set for a big career – though as with many of their NWOBHM competitors at the time it wasn’t to be.
However we know you can’t keep a good old NWOBHM band down – and back they came reforming around 2008 and a fine album – Cry Havoc (review here) – in 2015.
And now we have Midnight to enjoy. A proper firecracker of an album with Tysondog on top form.
Nine tracks of blistering heaviness which not only harks back to the NWOBHM days but also feels fresh and very powerful indeed. And they show how they can mix it up a bit too. Overall a ripsnorting listen bristling with monster riffs, measured solos and some nice variety in the song writing.
Batallion being a superb opener. The title of the song tells you what it’s going to be like before you listen to it. A spitting riff speeds things along with some menace as do the vocals allied with a huge backbeat with battering ram drums and a brutal solo. What a start. Proper stuff. Have a listen:
It Lives keeps the pace up and is a little bit menacing I’d say in how it is delivered. Hellbound as heavy as you like and a huge chorus.
The title track, Midnight and Defiant a trio of breathless heaviness and NWOBHM-style glory each song punching away majestically.
Paper Cuts brings in a different slant. A sort of a jaunty, slightly stuttering moody piece which builds up slowly throughout to a powerful ending. A song which when the penny drops after a few spins you start to appreciate why it is a bit of a change and what it adds to the album.
Cold Day in Hell another one with a big shout-along chorus. Then the closer – Waiting for God. A slow-burning, brooding, doomy cut with a vocal delivery to match and lyrics about what we’ll call the potential downsides of immortality. Stunning stuff.
Make no mistake – Tysondog have put together an album to be proud of. It’s a monster. And the New Wave of British Heavy Metal remains alive and very well…..!
>> TYSONDOG MIDNIGHT ON AMAZON HERE <<
Usual formats available.