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MIDNIGHT FORCE
Severan

Dying Victims Productions (2024)
Rating: 8/10

Dishing out nostalgic metal merriment since 2016, Scottish / German rockers Midnight Force take to their third full-length journey by once again flitting between mythological mirth and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal strokes.

New opus Severan could easily be some obscure late 70s rain-soaked UK rocker, or alternatively a mist shrouded Swedish effort from the early 80s. There is an element of the grandiose about such archaic and autumnal tremors, a wistful cocktail of early Manilla Road and Wishbone Ash served with a twist of Cirith Ungol as a variety of atmospheric tracks warm the cockles. The voice of John Gunn is a forceful bewitching snarl that emerges from the back of his throat to form a commanding warble.

‘Megas Alexandros’ – a tale which refers to Alexander The Great – wonderfully exhibits the fluid motions of the musicianship, the combo teasing us with a nostalgic and wistful classic rock sound that gallops with vim. Naturally, the classic NWOBHM influence is what causes such tapestries to come alive as if one is thumbing through a delicate historical manuscript dripping with tales of ancient bloodshed.

The previous works from the band seemed to feature a smog of doom, and while Severan does still achieve levels of gloom it’s more of a caress as the infectious chorus of ‘Last Raider King’ is lifted further by the brisk axework of Ansgar Burke, whose wizardry is woven through a myriad of ye olde tales.

‘Three Empires Fall’ boasts a loose bass courtesy of Brenden Crow that effortlessly trickles in tandem with the brisk drum patterns formed by Peter Werninck. “Summoned by an ancient tale, follow brooks and mountain tombs, Calling for a summer gale, In my chest a pounding soon” booms Gunn on ‘Bergentrückung’ as if narrating some Tolkienesque stage play. There is always hope beneath the fiery winds though; “Ravens cry high above, light the torch and toll the bell. Slumber ends and mountains thaw, new dawns will come”. And suddenly the mist clears before another yarn is spun, namely ‘The Fires Of Nanyue’, as again the sharp guitars and drums lead the way.

At any moment one feels that Midnight Force could transform into something doomy or speedy, such are the variations within the structure of the band. ‘Sleeping City’ has a measured approach, although the drums provide quite the clatter to accompany the playful lead work, while ‘Row, Massilians, Row’ has an emphatic power metal vibe, but there’s nothing more colossal than the folk-tinged power jig of the title cut which adds fiddle, flute and cello to the already intriguing charges of Gunn’s vocals and those daring 70s feels circa Wishbone Ash or even Jethro Tull with extra riotous padding.

Severan is an all encompassing return from Midnight Force and an album all true rockers should be putting on their Christmas list.

Neil Arnold

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