The difficult second album? Tailgunner return with Midnight Blitz with rock royalty in the production booth.
DON’T JUDGE THE BOOK BY THE COVER
When I was younger, people used to say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But clearly, anyone who believes that doesn’t understand what makes a great heavy metal album cover! Midnight Blitz, the latest album from Tailgunner carries on that classic style, featuring a Grim Reaper-like figure controlling a WWII bomber over a grid reminiscent of the 80’s film Tron. Eddie and Vic had better beware!
The first track this writer heard from Tailgunner was an excellent cover of Hit the Lights on the recent no Life to Leather Tribute Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All (our review here). It is a tremendous track and serves as a great introduction if you are unaware of Tailgunner. Now, Midnight Blitz arrives; the follow up to 2023’s Guns For Hire.
TAILGUNNER
The five piece are fronted by vocalist Craig Cairns with a classic twin guitar assault from Rhea Thompson and Zach Salvini. On bass there is founder Tom Hewson and completing the line-up is Eddie Mariotti sitting behind the drum kit.
It is thrilling to see a new generation producing music reminiscent of what emerged in the late 70s and 80s. With Megadeth close to calling it a day and no one knowing how much longer the mighty Maiden will keep going, it is vital that bands like Tailgunner carry the torch forward.
And indeed, this band don’t just carry it, they set the fuse alight. Midnight Blitz delivers 10 tracks of classic heavy metal energy. The production is first class and comes courtesy of metal legend K.K. Downing, of Judas Priest fame.
Picture: Tunde Valiszka
MIDNIGHT BLITZ
Crucially, each member of Tailgunner demonstrates remarkable musicianship throughout Midnight Blitz. When bands start to neglect guitar solos and stop creating memorable riffs, metal loses its essence for me. For instance, the solo in Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears (see Zakk Wylde at the Brit Awards) or the riff in Megadeth’s Hanger 18 always inspire and shape an appreciation for the genre. It is performances like these that remind me why I fell in love with metal in the first place. If the riff and solo are metal superpowers, then Tailgunner truly are new breed of heroes.
Now technicality aside, a great song and good grooves are of course essential. The band really build up their songs beautifully, with epic choruses and epic bridges. Opener and title track, Midnight Blitz, is a tour de force. Craig’s vocals add atmosphere to the band, and while Iron Maiden’s influence is apparent, many tracks evoke the work of M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold.
WAR IN HEAVEN
An absolute stand out of Midnight Blitz is the sensational War In Heaven. It is a track that feels like it would be perfect in a late 80’s Van Damme movie as Kurt Sloane prepares to face his nemesis the evil Tong Po. Barren Lands And Seas Of Red is also a brilliant track featuring massive sonic hints of thrash. Throughout the album, some solos resemble Kirk Hammett’s prime, while the aforementioned cover highlights the band’s 80’s thrash influence.
Overall, it’s the heavy and power metal aspect of the album that shines through. There could be a desire to pull out Stratovarius after listening to this album several times, as well as the 80’s classics.
Tailgunner’s Midnight Blitz is a tremendous record with a job well done. Through their ongoing crusade to bring classic heavy metal back to the masses, Tailgunner seek to keep metal well and truly alive.
Tailgunner: Bandcamp