LIZZY BORDEN – My Midnight Things (2018)
Since the ’80s LIZZY BORDEN has been one of theatrical, shock-rock’s top acts. And today, Borden is releasing his first album in 11 years, “My Midnight Things“, via Metal Blade Records.
Gregory Charles Harges has spent 35 years in the Lizzy Borden role and, as you’d expect, lyrical and musical styles are thoroughly defined: think supernatural themes set to fist-in-the-air anthems.
“My Midnight Things” is the quintessential Lizzy album, mixing upbeat metal rockers with ’80s arena-ready melodic tunes. This is a man unconcerned with trends as he continues to do just what he wants, for better or worse.
He shows he can still craft a rocking, catchy ditty right off the bat with the killer title track. It’s actually one of his best songs, with a driving tempo, more hooks than Pinhead and an ever so slightly malevolent energy that screams obsessive stalker.
After such a long layoff, it’s great to hear the man in such high feather, and his voice has held up surprisingly well over the decades. He’s still that commanding, preening demon, full of drama and angst, but wanting his music to become radio staples forevermore.
“Obsessed With You” is another prototypical Lizzy song and it gets the hooks in you no matter how you squirm and resist. “Long May They Haunt Us” has less pop-metal and punch but it too will stick if exposure continues past one spin.
“The Perfect Poison” is catchy yet darker, with some terror atmosphere typical Borden, and I like it a lot. then there’s a little surprise with “Run Away With Me”, a poppy melodic rocker with some Enuff Z’Nuff on it.
“We Belong To The Shadows” is wery modern and commercial, while the ’80s horror-movie feel appears in “Silent Night”, with clean guitars and great gutiars by Lizzy.
Lizzy the man does all the heavy lifting here, handling vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards. The guy is talented, and I’ve always loved his voice. He has a wild range and time seems to have dulled very little of it.
In fact, it’s smoothed out the rougher edges and made him less shrill when he goes high. On the best tracks he’s utterly in command and elevates the material significantly.
Not that ‘heavy’ than before and more melodic hard oriented, “My Midnight Things” is all about glitz, entertainment and a thunderous sense of melody.
Highly Recommended
01 – My Midnight Things
02 – Obsessed With You
03 – Long May They Haunt Us
04 – The Scar Across My Heart
05 – A Stranger To Love
06 – The Perfect Poison
07 – Run Away With Me
08 – Our Love Is God
09 – My Midnight Things (Reprise)
10 – We Belong To The Shadows
11 – Long May They Haunt Us (Reprise)
12 – Silent Night
13 – Waiting In The Wings (2018)
Lizzy Borden – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, synths
Joey Scott Harges – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/My-Midnight-Things-Lizzy-Borden/dp/B07CCFRZLN
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