Released by: Pride & Joy Music
Release Date: November 21st, 2025
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock/Glam/Hair Metal
Links: https://www.facebook.com/midnitecityuk
Line Up:
Rob Wylde – Lead Vocals & Guitar
Miles Meakin – Lead Guitar
Shawn Charvette – Keyboards
Josh Williams – Bass
Ryan Briggs – Drums
Tracklist:
Live Like Ya Mean It
Worth Fighting For
It’s Going To Be Alright
Heaven In This Hell
Running Back To Your Heart
Lethal Dose Of Love
Archer’s Song
Seeing Is Believing
No One Wins
Hang On Til Tomorrow
When The Summer Ends
There’s no pressure when diving into the fifth album from UK rockers Midnite City—the facts speak for themselves. They’re ridiculously good, and they’ve proven themselves as a formidable live act through relentless worldwide touring. With a growing legion of fans known as The Midnite Army backing them, the band’s reputation precedes them. Led by Rob Wylde (Tigertailz/Teenage Casket Company) on vocals and guitar, joined by Miles Meakin on lead guitar, Josh Williams on bass, Ryan Briggs on drums, and Shawn Charvette on keyboards, the album once again benefits from the mixing expertise of melodic hard rock specialist Chris Laney.
Their prowess is immediately evident from the opening blast of “Live Like Ya Mean It.” This is shameless, party-ready Hard Rock & Roll with the spontaneous energy of yesterday’s greats—adrenaline pumping through visceral vocals, devastating rhythms punctuated by cowbell, and unabashed guitars. Think Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt, or Faster Pussycat with bombastic keyboards added to the rogue’s profile. They strengthen and flex their accessibility with the extra-adhesive melodic rock of “Worth Fighting For,” a track with general appeal that features a chorus reminiscent of Danger Danger and The Defiants, while Wylde’s vocals merge the spirits of Poley and Laine into one voice.
“It’s Going To Be Alright” combines addictive Def Leppard-style guitars with meticulously affectionate keyboards—glamorous AOR with a heavy retro sound and epic eighties vocal delivery at mid-tempo. Those effective vocal echoes, provoked by voluminous keyboards and a monstrous riff, sound like European glory on “Heaven In This Hell,” recalling Treat, Glory, Zeno, or Zinatra, and consequently Robby Valentine.
They maintain the core sound of a young White Lion, Harem Scarem, or Winger on the verge of evolution, exploring further in “Running Back Your Heart” with irresistible guitar tones, prominent keyboards, and innocent vocals. They confidently handle traditional rhythms on “Lethal Dose Of Love”—the group choruses are expertly crafted, the tremendous commercial verses evoke Kiss, Autograph, Black ‘N Blue, Firehouse, or Crown of Thorns, and the lead vocal on the chorus channels Kip Winger.
Pay close attention to the extreme quality of the just-over-one-minute instrumental “Archer’s Song” and the following “Seeing Is Believing.” This fantastic pairing is a massage of pure melodic rock that sounds familiar and approachable. Though separate tracks, they’re beautifully structured, containing gentle guitars, crystalline keys, delicate rock notes, and magnetic vocals. They’re absolutely stunning.
Fun, quality, and passion are fortunate attributes and an inherent condition for Midnite City. “No One Wins” is precisely that descriptive and colossal, with a magnificent chorus designed to tear away your defeats, toss them in the trash bin of uselessness, and get you pumping fists and dancing with emotion to this motivational musical gem. The formula used isn’t as sleazy or glam as one might imagine. For instance, “Hang On Til Tomorrow” shows traces of it, but the pop melody—suitable for all audiences and intended to anchor itself in your rebellious heart—is textbook sweet and optimistic composition. The guitar solos are tasteful and executed with cleanliness and clarity, the rhythm section is complicit in the sparkling presentation, the keyboards have plenty of play, and the vocals fit perfectly across all songs with stellar performances.
The farewell to love’s season arrives with the brilliant “When The Summer Ends”—those Eddie Van Halen-patented keyboard stabs embed themselves in your memory, they remain as exciting as youthful Bon Jovi and Danger Danger, and the chorus serves as hard training music as if you were listening to the Rocky IV soundtrack.
Written by: SleazyRider
Ratings: 8/10
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