MIDNIGHT VICE – Midnight Vice EP

(ROAR!)

Rating: 7.0

Good to see this kind of music originating in the States, as for far too long it was exclusively the province of Europe. Not only did this Tampa mob nick their moniker from an Enforcer song, but they cook up a similar recipe to the Swedish chefs, dishing out high pitched vocal, traditional minded speed with (as did their mentors, early in their career) a pinch of commercial glam.

Much like with labelmates Saber, ROAR! is reissuing this two year old, independent debut, garnering a wider distribution, especially overseas. While this release is considered an EP, there are six originals (plus a wicked cover of Savatage’s “White Witch”), lasting almost a half hour.

“Strike In The Night” jumps right into the deep end, racing out of the gate, as Tyler Gray lets the falsetto scrape the stratosphere. Opting for a more mid-tempo “Spellcaster”, apart from Gray’s yelps, initially there’s an Oliva era ‘Tage feel to this one.

At the halfway point, the pace enlivens, through to the end. “Excalibur” sees the vocalist alternate between the ear-splitting highs and a normal register that he rarely utilizes elsewhere on the platter. Apart from the final 30 seconds, the speed quotient is basically absent from this one and as such, comes closest to the aforementioned Hair Metal heyday.

Despite the title, “Baptized By Fire” isn’t a blazing number, although there’s a guitar showcase (complete with whammy bar action!) in the final third. “Mysteria” is the most commercial (if that’s possible with those paint peeling vocals) of the bunch. “Deliverance Of Steel”, which closed the original is the only dull spot. On the ‘Tage cover, which now ends things, Gray has restrained his high notes, perhaps a glimpse of things to come?

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Source: bravewords.com