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Midnite Hellion: Condemned To Hell
Midnite Hellion - Condemned To Hell CD Album Review

Midnite Hellion: Condemned To Hell

Traditional Heavy Metal
3.5/5.0

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Witches Brew Records
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.09.2017

When first pitched Midnite Hellion for review, I thought for sure they were a band from the early Eighties, then defunct, but now resurrected. But I was wrong. Hailing from Trenton, New Jersey, Midnite Hellion was formed in 2011 by drummer Drew Rizzo and includes Rich Kubik on bass and lead vocals and Mario DiBartolo on lead guitar (live). Condemned To Hell is their first long player and includes several songs from a previous demo, EP, and single recording.

Midnite Hellion Band Photo

Midnite Hellion

Actually, the Eighties is good reference point to begin with. Midnite Hellion basically plays traditional heavy metal, the American side of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with some speed metal thrown in. Several things captured my attention on the first spin. First, the recording has a warm organic feeling like it could have been an analog recording session. Alternatively, the production seems uneven. Songs like Black And White and Death Dealer sound muffled, where others such as Soldiers Of Hades and The Fever seem more vibrant. Another thing that seemed odd was Kubik's vocal presence. Early in the recording he sounded buried in the music, then later in the album, more present.

Nevertheless, for classic heavy metal Midnite Hellion has the genre nailed with essential melody and harmony in the vocal and guitar parts, gallop as necessary in the rhythm section, and blistering solos to fire up every song. You'll find real speed metal racers with Cross The Line, Death Dealer, and the short, almost punkish, Rip It Up. Some slight moderation comes with The Morrigan or Soldiers Of Hades like fourth gear rather than fifth. But the best cut here is easily Teenage Bloodsuckin' Bimbos created for the forthcoming retro B-movie of the same name. The punk rock metal sound of this song will drop you back into an Eighties drive-in movie experience. Additionally, The Morrigan is also featured in Teenage Bloodsuckin' Bimbos. Watch the trailer for the movie here. All in all, Midnite Hellion's Condemned To Hell is an ambitious and promising debut for the band, delivering American made traditional heavy speed metal.



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The Bottom Line

Midnite Hellion's Condemned To Hell is an ambitious and promising debut for the band, delivering American made traditional heavy speed metal.

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