Blog Post
Midnite City - 'In At The Deep End' Label: Pride & Joy Music Release Date: 23rd June 2023
Kevin McCallum • 8 May 2023
Album Review
So here we have it, the 5th album release from Midnite City, ‘In At The Deep End’. These guys released ‘Itch You Can’t Scratch’ in 2021, ‘Open Invite’ in 2019 and the globally acclaimed album ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ back in 2018 which was the follow up to their self titled debut album in 2017 ‘Midnite City’.
So what’ve we got here?….. Well ‘In At The Deep End’, mixed by award winning producer Chris Laney, is an 11 track release kicking off with the instrumental ‘Outbreak’. This gives a pretty moody feel pulling you through a ‘Gangs of London’ type vibe, then right into ‘Ready to Go’, upbeat, fast paced, big sounds sets the scene for the rest of album.
‘Someday’ with big powerful keyboard work sitting alongside the exceptional guitar work is a great AOR track that will be a stormer when played live, an album favourite. Next up is ‘Hardest Heart To Break’, continues the great musical vibe you get from this band and this album.
So who are Midnite City? Fronted up by Lead Vocalist and songwriter Rob Wylde, Lead Guitar/Vocals from Myles Meakin, Keyboards/Vocals from Shawn Charvette, Bass/Vocals from Josh Williams, Drums/Vocals from Ryan Briggs. They combine together to produce a formidable sound.
There is a definite and clear shout out to the hair metal genre from Midnite City through this album, next up though ’Good Time Music’ brings more of a bit of a grungy feel to it in bits, but still backed up with the quality classic rock/AOR undertones that identifies this band.
Track 6 , ’All Fall Down’ is an album favourite, for me it has all the ticks to make a great rock song. All these individual talented musicians combining, excellent lyrics, powerful vocals, guitar work, drums, and keyboards. Take a bow guys its a belter.
Moving on to ’Girls Gone Wild’ this has a great upbeat vibe to it, will be another star when hopefully played live.
You can hear a few different AOR/Classic Rock/ Hair Rock band influences through this album, that's obvious, from the like of the Def Lep, Danger Danger, Warrant, Firehouse to name but a few, but not withstanding it, these guys have ably put their own style and mark on the tone/vibe/melody on this quality album.
The next track ‘Beginning Of The End’ slows you down and would hold itself up against many songs of that type we’ve heard from particularly the top US bands of this genre over the last couple of decades, another great track.
‘Raise The Dead’ speeds you up again and drops you into a powerful track which has excellent guitar work from Myles, haunting keyboards in parts from Shawn, another album favourite for me.
Track 10 is a brilliant power ballad, showcases Rob’s exceptional vocal quality and the best guitar work on the album from Myles ’Its Not Me It’s You’.
Then there we have it we reach the end of this new album with the closing ‘Like There’s No Tomorrow’, this kind of joins all the parts of this band together to bring us to a close.
This is a great rock album, privileged to get an early listen. Plenty great rock tracks on it, but don’t take it solely from me, get out and buy it on release date 23rd June 2023, put it in your diaries. If you liked ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’, then for me ‘In At The Deep End’ is as good if not better.
Also, if you can go and see these guys live, do it, you won’t be disappointed.
Kevin McCallum