Thrash N' Bang!!!

Cry Havoc! / Midnight Saints – 12 Song Split CD

 

So there’s a big storm tonight and all electricity is lost, even my internet connection went out a few hours ago but now that’s back. So, flashlight in hand, I need to do my TNB duties. Not a light in the neighborhood, Harry the cat comes to me for reassurance; have to drink all the Jagermeister and beer in the fridge before it spoils. Reminds me of that dreadful song, “When The Lights Go Down In The City,” by that dreadful band, Journey. It’s top secret that I spent my life playing in cover bands- don’t tell a soul. I used to change the title to, “When The Mice Go Down On The Kitty,” and Harry approves.

Which leads us, naturally, to the Cry Havoc/ Midnight Saints CD. We’ve seen the former band, a top notch hardcore outfit from Connecticut, only once but were duly impressed. They were supposed to send us a CD but, you see; this Johnny character- well, he’s not playing with a full deck. But Benny No-Good from The Enders, a great band from Indiana, put us onto the Midnight Saints from Vermont (Bang informs me the two states border each other) and I was again duly impressed. But what’s up with their name? Midnight Saints sounds like a goddamn Bruce Springsteen tribute band.

Which leads us, naturally, to the Cry Havoc/ Midnight Saints CD. Both bands do five original songs and one cover (no Journey). Cry Havoc is a powerhouse punk band with all pistons pumping music, hellacious hardcore vocals and malevolence spread throughout their songs. They chose “Jaded” by Operation Ivy as their cover but here are three of their own tunes.

“Catch Me In The End” starts out fairly slow with calm vocals than accelerates into frantic playing and near hysterical vocals, like a hot rod smashing into a brick wall. An interesting dissonant guitar line separates the verses like police moving in with billy clubs, this is my favorite song of theirs on the CD.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 – Catch Me In The End.mp3|titles=Catch Me In The End]

More mayhem follows with, “Living On The Witch Hunt” which has vocals falling somewhere between screaming and hysteria, madness and ecstasy and an energetic but not hardcore beat moving along with trebly bass and choppy rhythms. Some wooh-oohs soar in the background either to sharpen or lessen the pain.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 – Living on the Witch Hunt.mp3|titles=Living on the Witch Hunt]

“Calling Bullshit On Bullshit” is more like typical hardcore but it still decimates all living life forms within a ten mile radius. With Minor Threat like intensity and a breakdown with some spoken word, this song clubs the unbelievers into submission.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/05 – Calling Bullshit on Bullshit.mp3|titles=Calling Bullshit on Bullshit]

Midnight Saints is an intense, hardcore/punk band with at times, guttural death vocals that set them apart- that, and being quite the excellent band. All those trees and nice scenery of Vermont must be getting to these guys. Some lyrics from the first tune, “I Want Out.”:

Sick and tired of all your lies
stabbed in the back and pushed to the side
this world is depressing with each step I take
the city is crumbling from all our mistakes
and I want OUT!

This song starts with a guitar chord and a yell, scream or regurgitation and then we’re off to a groovin’ beat as if Black Sabbath and Black Flag decided to jam- Black Flagath? Energy and in your face vocals as the band prowls along like a leopard stalking its prey until the death growl rises to a fever pitch and the devil chords march in to clutch our souls and rip them out of our hearts to deliver them unto Satan. A bit of a talking breakdown but then it’s back into hell and they’re best song on the CD.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/07 – I Want Out.mp3|titles=I Want Out]

“Taking It Back” is about taking back the scene from the trendy folks and fashion punks, you know, the folks like Slimedog and Bang with their mohawks, bullet belts and polo shirts. A sustained guitar chord, a rolling drum intro and we’re off to the races with ringing guitar chords, faster than the speed of light rhythms and desperate vocals building up to a very effective stop and go chorus. A bass breakdown at the end and then we’re back to smashing, demolishing and crushing all buildings and barriers with a blazing wall of pure noise and sound- great song.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/11 – Taking it Back.mp3|titles=Taking it Back]

“I Don’t Want To Hear It” by Minor Threat, the best hardcore band of all time in my opinion and Midnight Saints show taste and skill in rendering a great version of this song. I’ve heard Cry Havoc do a great version of “In My Eyes” by Minor Threat, as well.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/12 – I Dont Wanna Hear It.mp3|titles=I Dont Wanna Hear It]

What this says to me is both of these bands are forging ahead the tradition set by Minor Threat and others before them by not only their choice of covers but how, with their songs and their sounds, they know where they’re coming from and where they want to be. And where are they taking us? I’m unsure; I just want to buy a ticket because from what I’m hearing it should be great No electricity? No problem. Cat conniptions? Jesus will save us, devil chords and all. I look forward to seeing these bands live and more material from them (and you should, also).

I look forward to the journey, as long as it’s not that dreadful band.

(Slimedog)