MIDNITE CITY – Itch You Can’t Scratch [Japan Edition +1] (2021)

‘Itch You Can’t Scratch’ is the third full-length studio album from British sensation MIDNITE CITY, released in Japan today with a bonus track. If you’re familiar with either of their first two offerings – their self-titled debut album in 2017, or ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ a year later – then you’ll know what to expect: classic ’80s-style hair metal that’s loud, brash and ready to party.
And darn, all that perfected to the extreme like never before. Indeed, since you press ‘play’ on opener ‘Crawlin’ in the Dirt’ you are taken back to 1987 to enjoy a very, very good time.

In the world of modern ’80s flavoured Melodic Rock there are of course a number of big names when you look at the European scene: most notably perhaps Eclipse and H.E.A.T. then there’s Crazy Lixx, Reckless Love and bands like The New Roses and Black Diamonds, not to mention a host of other bands that tick a lot of those boxes like W.E.T., Dynazty, Brother Firetribe, Kissin’ Dynamite, the list goes on.
And all that of course without even mentioning the greats of the era who are still out there putting great music either in the same guise or a variation of the same; or the bands that fall into a Sleazier category like Crashdiet and co.

If you’re simply looking for Arena sized acts though of course those days are sadly gone, but the sound certainly isn’t. So if you crave the sounds of that golden era from early Bon Jovi and Def Leppard to Poison and Whitesnake there are arguably bands out there right now who would have been huge 30 odd years ago.
For us three albums in Midnite City are right at the top of that tree and here’s why…

When you have behind you a bunch of gems like ‘Here Comes the Party’, ‘You Don’t Understand Me’, ‘Summer of Our Lives’ and ‘Give Me Love’ it’s hard to imagine writing songs that could replace them in the setlist, but the problem with ‘Itch You Can’t Scratch’ is that it’s in danger of squeezing out some of your favourite Midnite City tunes from the setlist! It’s the best of positions to be in of course!

‘Itch You Can’t Scratch’ could well be the band’s best record yet, and rather than stay safe and deliver a collection to replicate the eponymous ‘Midnite City’ and ‘There Goes the Neighbourhood’ we see the band pushing a few boundaries and taking a few risks.
The best examples of that are probably two of the three singles released in the lead up – ‘Crawlin’ In the Dirt’ with it’s harder edge and ‘They Only Come Out at Night’ with its darker cinematic feel and lush layered melodies which take the song in a wonderful new direction.

Opening with the first two singles of the three already released though might be the only slight misstep here, but it does on the other hand build the anticipation as you hit ‘play’ or drop the needle in the groove of you have the vinyl!
‘Crawlin’ In The Dirt’ of course is delightfully heavy and the inescapable groove of the Danger Danger-meets Def Leppard ‘Atomic’ really does hit the spot.

The first ‘new’ track the mid-tempo ‘Fire Inside’ is one of the things Midnite City do best – write a song with a huge set of wings that just lift you up and let you look down on all that’s good with the world, it’s a real mood lifter made to sing along to.
‘Darkest Before the Dawn’ that follows ups the pace slightly and sports a chorus that just clicks beautifully. Those gems are quickly followed by the majestic build of ‘I Don’t Need Another Headache’ – another winner swamped in lush melody and equal Pop Rock nous, before the ‘let it all rip’ party rock wail of ‘Blame It On Your Lovin” kicks in
It’s a helluva introduction to the real meat of the album and if you already love the band you’ll be beaming from ear to ear! If this is all new to you you’ll be in Melodic Hard Rock heaven.

‘They Only Come Out At Night’ follows, it’s a composition of real maturity, and man those guitars. Resting against the harder-edged rocker ‘Change Of A Lifetime’ which it’s a wonderful one-two punch.
With the first two records sporting 11 tracks (plus an alternate take making 12 on the Japanese releases) the ten tracks of ‘Itch’ do seem to breeze by, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when there’s no weak links in sight, and of course we do appreciate that it’s all about fitting the album on that single vinyl.

We hit the home stretch with one of my highlights – the ballad ‘If It’s Over’ which is beautifully orchestrated piano and show-stopping refrain – it’s a song that just captures a feeling we’ve all felt and realizes it beautifully.
We close Midnite City’s third long-player with the good time ‘blue sky’ rock of ‘Fall To Pieces’ and yet another unforgettable refrain.

The Japanese CD version of the album adds an 11th song – the rather fittingly titled ‘Girls of Tokyo’ which if I’m honest’ doesn’t quite have the immediacy of the rest of the songs here but that’s more of a comment on the quality of the release than a song which in lesser hands could easily be a high point…
If you’ve been itching for some world beating Melodic Hard Rock – your itch has been well and truly scratched!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

01. Crawlin’ in the Dirt
02. Atomic
03. Fire Inside
04. Darkest Before the Dawn
05. I Don’t Need Another Heartache
06. Blame It On Your Lovin’
07. They Only Come out at Night
08. Chance of a Lifetime
09. If It’s Over
10. Fall to Pieces
11. Girls of Tokyo (Japan Bonus Track)

Rob Wylde (vocals)
Miles Meakins (guitar)
Shawn Charvette (keyboards)
Josh ‘Tabbie’ Williams (bass)
Pete Newdeck (drums)

BUY
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-11625