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MIDNIGHT
Steel, Rust And Disgust
Metal Blade Records

As I'm writing this review about a week after the ultimate tribute concert, 'Back To The Beginning', the final concert and legacy event for BLACK SABBATH and also the final live performance of OZZY OSBOURNE, it made me wax poetic about the lasting impression of SABBATH, and that there will NEVER be another band like them. They are universally acknowledged (And rightfully so) as creating the genre of music that runs through my veins, that being Heavy Metal. Yes, of course there were others, and I could mention literally a dozen who hand a hand in that, but no one, not even SABBATH themselves could have foreseen how that ominous self-titled record in 1970, followed by the sledgehammer of Paranoid later that same year would shape the world of heavy music.

But even BLACK SABBATH had their influences. OZZY has spoken numerous times that THE BEATLES are what made him want to become a musician. And to prove his point, most people missed his very own tribute album to HIS idols, called Under Cover, released in 2005. It had a cover of THE BEATLES "In My Life", and also a couple of covers of the late BEATLE John Lennon as well, along with MOUNTAIN, CREAM, MOTT THE HOOPLE, KING CRIMSON and others. And to tie up loose ends, the guitarist on Under Cover was Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, whose band was one of many that played a set on the 'Back To The Beginning' show.

Musical Influences come in many forms, and they are not always what you expect, or even bands you've heard of before. When I heard that hellish Cleveland sleazeball (and I say that with love) B>Athenar and his mutant creation MIDNIGHT were planning an album of covers, I was expecting something a little different. I thought he'd maybe pay tribute to 'Kvlt' act BLACK DEATH, or maybe another heavy Cleveland institution DESTRUCTOR, who Athenar's mild-mannered alter ego Jamie Walters even played bass for at one point. But ol' Athenar went DEEP into the bowels of Cleveland lore to pull out the real guts of the city. I pride myself on trying to have at least a passing knowledge of most bands (which is a virtual impossibility with the influx of today's music alongside the thousands of bands of yesteryear that I haven't even heard about yet), but somehow the majority of these covers are new to me entirely. I personally find that refreshing. Nothing like finding new bands and deeper rabbit holes for my hard-earned money to go down funding my Vinyl collecting addiction. And a side note: these are MIDNIGHT versions of these choice cuts, so even if I had in fact heard them before, I probably wouldn't recognize them in their original form. And to that end, I actually did some digging into a few of the OG albums that some of these tracks are culled from, and let's just say you won't be finding them in your Half Priced Bookstore in a strip center somewhere.

One thing that is very cool about this collection is you get a backstory about each track, and of its importance to or significance of why it was selected. One band I had heard of was KRATOS, but the album's scarcity makes it one that is lacking from my Dungeon of Vinyl. The title track of their 4-song EP, released in 1986 is covered here. Another band I had seen at the few record stores I've been to in my day but never heard is ELECTRIC EELS. Their 1984 album is pillaged here with the double shot of "Black Leather Rock"/"Agitated". There's cuts by the RUBBER CITY REBELS, ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS, and SYNASTRYCHE, all whom I've never heard in my life. A couple of bands I HAVE in fact heard of, and actually own albums from are the DEAD BOYS. England had the snotty-nosed SEX PISTOLS. I say DEAD BOYS are America's version. Great middle finger in the air punk rock. MIDNIGHT do a sneering version of "3rd Generation Nation", from their 1978 album, We Have Come For Your Children. And let the record reflect that this is not the first time the DEAD BOYS have been covered. They've also gotten the nod from none other than GUNS N ROSES ("Ain't It Fun?") on The Spaghetti Incident?, and also the mighty OVERKILL, who did "Sonic Reducer" on the legendary From The Megavault Megaforce Records (METALLICA's 1st label) compilation from 1985.

And I learned something from this album that I did not know. I was always under the impression that DAVID ALLEN COE was a Texan. He put out an album with none other than PANTERA as his backing band, the Southern fried killer DAVID ALLEN COE AND THE COWBOYS FROM HELL. A kickass album! Country meets Metal meets Southern Rock. Brilliant! And he said as much on his album, Rides Again from 1977. On the track "Willie, Waylon And Me" he comes right out and says, "I'm David Allen Coe from Dallas, Texas". I just took it as a fact. Then I get this here album and find out DAC was born in AKRON??? Say it ain't so son. Sadly according to Google it's truth. Well DAC put out a couple of very rare and very expensive albums, Nothing Sacred and Underground Album. These are called his 'Prison albums'. Lyrically, think Andrew Silverstein's DICE character and his take on any and everything, That should get you there. How Athenar heard these albums is another question entirely. Anyway, his take on the track "Rock N' Roll Fever" got immortalized here. Another character you may have heard of covered here is SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS. He of the iconic song, "I Put A Spell On You". Such was the greatness of this song is that JOHN FOGERTY and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL did a cover of it! And probably most think it was a CCR original. MIDNIGHT cover "Frenzy" here.

Now don't let the fact that you might not know these songs dissuade you from picking this up. it's still a kick-to-the-balls MIDNIGHT album. AND there are 2 NEW MIDNIGHT cuts on here as well, just because he could. The first, "Cleveland Metal", has actually been made into a video (Watch it on KNAC.COM HERE). Filmed at Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where not only did MIDNIGHT play a concert INSIDE the Hall, but there is now a MIDNIGHT display inside there as well. Need any more signs of the coming apocalypse? And second cut, and the title track "Steel, Rust and Disgust" spells out the MIDNIGHT ethos for all to hear. If for some odd reason, you're a virgin to this hellish party. Both are prime-time MIDNIGHT, with the title track a slow, pounding dirge made for fist pumping and headbanging. Everything you already expect in other words.

Look at this latest slab of molten hell like the Fat Albert cartoon. It's fun, and you might learn something before it's done. I did. And it's a 34 minute pummeling that you will enjoy more with each listen. The verdict: Buy Or Die a thousand deaths to a BARRY MANILOW orgy soundtrack. 'Nuff said.

And yes Broomhilda, there will ALWAYS be MIDNIGHT Vinyl! At least 1 uber-limited variation is already soldout. Mine is Orange Blackdust (no, not GHOST mummydust either), limited to 500 copies. Colors vary from country and seller. Now go forth and seed.

4.7 on the album. Another point for Traci Lords on the cover. 4.8 Skulls Out Of 5.0