Midnight is a black/speed metal band from Cleveland, USA. It was formed in 2003 by Jamie Walters (stage name "Athenar") as a solo side project from his then-primary band Boulder. It's music is influenced by 70's and 80's metal, most notably Venom and Motörhead. For eight years straight since Midnight's inception only EPs and splits were being released, until the debut LP Satanic Royalty came out in 2011.
Not to be confused with The Midnight (note the "The"), an American synthwave band founded in 2012.
Full-length albums:
- Satanic Royalty - 2011
- No Mercy for Mayhem - 2014
- Sweet Death and Ecstasy - 2017
- Rebirth by Blasphemy - 2020
- Let There Be Witchery - 2022
Tropes:
- Affectionate Parody: Athenar will be the first to admit that his image looks like an overdone pastiche of metalhead clothing fashion. He will also admit that he loves it to the core.
- Badass Bandolier: Bullet belts are always worn by band members live.
- Black Metal: Heavily inspired by the first wave.
- Cover Version: Recorded covers of songs from bands like Venom, Crucifixion and Girlschool.
- Harsh Vocals: Raspy yelling similar to that of Cronos.
- Heavy Meta: Generally, when the lyrics aren't about sex, violence or satanic stuff, they're about metal music itself.
- Hell-Bent for Leather: Most of the time, they're either performing shirtless or in leather jackets.
- I Am the Band: Athenar is Merciless.
- In the Hood: Wearing black hoods with face-obscuring cloth is an integral part of Midnight's image.
- Intercourse with You: Many of the lyrics are this; the sleazier, the better.
- Lead Bassist: Athenar, Type B and C.
- Miniscule Rocking: Their songs are typically around 2-3 minutes long.
- Rock Me, Asmodeus!: In an obviously tongue-in-cheek way.
- Rockers Smash Guitars: Occasionally.
- Shout-Out: The title of No Mercy for Mayhem is one to Venom's song "Mayhem with Mercy".
- Sigil Spam: Many of their cover artworks feature a distinct drawing of a large bell with an inverted cross carved out on it and two crossed scythes in front of it.
- Speed Metal: The very foundation of Midnight's music.
- Three Chords and the Truth: "Straightforward and to the point", as Athenar would put it.
