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Midnight Sin: Sex First

Melodic (Sleaze) Hard Rock

3.5/5.0

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Bakerteam Records
Words: Craig Hartranft  Added: 08.10.2014

This band gives everything away from the start. Everything you need to know about the Midnight Sin is revealed, not only with its name, but also in the title to it's first album Sex First, the artwork and the band photo.

Midnight Sin: more victims of Photoshop.

Yep. Hailing from Italy, home to European sleaze rock and the Pope, Midnight Sin is another 21st century interpretation of classic Eighties melodic hard rock of the Sunset Strip sleaze variety. And, frankly, they're actually pretty good at the genre. Strong melodies and vocal harmonies, big guitars, solid rock groove, a singer with a bit of a punkish snotty sound, and the normal trashy lyrical content fill this album. To make it even more palatable, they package it in an AOR wrapper.

Excepting a few lighter songs, most everything rocks, and that's basically the fundamental requirement for classic sleaze rock. The punch of groove and fire of guitar solos are the highlight of Midnight Revolution, Feed Me With Lies, and Rise & Yell, by example. You Piss Me Off is a bit more low key rock, but humorous nonetheless. 'till It's All Gone Away and No Matter rock, but with heavier riffs and feeling. Code 69 and Sweet Pain are the two lighter songs. Working mostly from acoustic guitar, they might be called ballads, especially the latter.

Overall, Sex First is a fine first effort. You can say what you will about the sleaze rock genre. That it's derivative or cliche, easy to clone and that's why bands do it. But, at the very least, Midnight Sin didn't screw it up.

Midnight Sin - Feed Me With Lies (Lyric Video)

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Midnight Sin is another 21st century interpretation of classic Eighties melodic hard rock of the Sunset Strip sleaze variety. And, frankly, they're actually pretty good at the genre.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]