Midnight Youth have only been around for a few years and but have already made huge inroads into the Kiwi rock scene. Their debut album 'The Brave Don’t Run' was released two years ago and featured 5 hit singles, making them a must see live act. To me they are at their best live as they have a great energy and passion which always come through a lot stronger when they are on stage. I have seen them a few times now and have always really enjoyed seeing them get the crowd rocking out.
'The Street' opens up the album starting out as a slow rocker building up onto a song which I’m sure is going to be a great live favourite. It’s an excellent opening song with some great sing along parts which is one of the best features of this band.
The next track 'Down Inside' has a great sounding guitar in another solid rocking track. There is some very cool lead and rhythm guitar work in this one. In the build up to the release of the album they described the album as heavier and this would probably be one of the first examples of this on the album.
'Won’t Stop' opens with a nice dirty sounding guitar another song which will go down well live. This song is definitely one of my favourites for the album so far.
'Who Said You’re Free' is this first song released from the album and is an energetic rock song. It has an excellent rock riff that gets in your face right from the start.
'Come One Come All' keeps up the energy and is mostly rock orientated but has some slightly funkier elements. Simon Oscroft has awesome rock guitar riffs throughout this album which complement Jeremy Redmore's soaring vocals.
'World Comes Calling' is the second single from the album, and builds up energy the more it is played. This song was released a week before the album and I think it captures a lot of the essence of the album.
'Too Young To Wonder' has a great beat and keeps the flow of the album pumping along.
'Listen' has a blistering lead in it and this is another song which will go down well at live gigs. It’s more of a slow rocker, but it is a very cool song.
'French Girl' is another slow rocker with amazing sounding lead work. This will be another great song at gigs with more great soaring vocals from Jeremy.
'Mark My Words' has a slow build up and then quietly takes the album to its conclusion.
This album shows a maturing of the band. It’s a fantastic album which I’m sure will get ample airplay across stereos in the upcoming summer, beach and BBQ season. The album features a very strong rock guitar and lyrics. I can’t wait to see these guys play these songs live cause they are all sing-along songs that the crowd are gonna lap up and scream for more.
Midnight Youth are a New Zealand rock band and currently based in Australasia.
They formed in 2006 while at Rangitoto College in Auckland with three members of the band competing in Rockquest with the band name Resonate. Jeremy Redmore and Nick Campbell joined the group in mid-2006 after their lead singer, Scott Franz, left due to creative differences.
In 2009 the band released their debut album, The Brave Don't Run, in New Zealand and Australia where it debuted at #2 on the NZ Top 40 Album chart. The album produced five singles - The Letter, All On Our Own, Learning To Fall, Cavalry and Golden Love. The later featured on US TV series One Tree Hill.