Articles by "Midnight"

 


West Coast thrash metal legends Dark Angel will embark on "The Extinction Level Event" North American Tour this fall, their first domestic trek in over three decades. 

Dark Angel’s first North American tour since the early 1990s celebrates their forthcoming comeback album, Extinction Level Event (Reversed Records), their first new album since 1991. 

Formed in 1981 – the same year as Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Mercyful Fate, and Sodom – Dark Angel earned a devoted cult following as pioneers and architects of the burgeoning thrash metal sound. The genre-defining We Have Arrived (1985), Darkness Descends (1986), Leave Scars (1989), and Time Does Not Heal (1991) helped shape a musical movement alongside their peers. 

Renowned for their ferocity and precision, the band’s signature blend of speed, technicality, and intensity made them beloved by headbangers around the world, as evidenced by the t-shirts and patches brandished by fans in the years since the band’s original run. The blistering “Circular Firing Squad” gave the thrash faithful another taste of the new album when it dropped last month. It followed April’s release of the title track, written by late co-founding guitarist Jim Durkin. 

“Musically, lyrically, and vocally, I’m so stoked about this album,” says Gene Hoglan, the iconic drummer and “Atomic Clock” who powered classic albums and tours by Death, Testament, Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory, Dethklok, and the all-star Death tribute, Death To All. 

Dark Angel’s modern line-up features classic era members Hoglan and guitarist Eric Meyer; bassist Mike Gonzalez, vocalist Ron Rinehart, and the latest addition, Laura Christine, who first performed with them in 2022. “I’m really excited about Dark Angel right now,” Hoglan says. “And everyone who’s heard the new album is losing their minds.”

Support acts for The Extinction Level Event North American Tour vary by date, boasting a diverse blend of metal styles: Sacred Reich, Hirax, Vio-Lence, Midnight, Void, and Interceptor.

The forthcoming Extinction Level Event was produced and engineered by Rob Shallcross and mixed by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Rush) at The Armoury Studios in Vancouver, BC. 

 

TOUR DATES (Support varies – see key below):


Sept 5 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues#

Sept 6 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theater#

Sept 7 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater#

Sept 11 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall#

Sept 12 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center#

Sept 13 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater#

Sept 14 – Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s Live#

Sept 16 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum#

Sept 17 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Revolution#

Sept 19 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club#

Sept 20 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground#

Sept 23 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre#

Sept 24 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall#

Sept 25 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage#

Sept 26 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium#

Sept 27 – Montreal, QC – Club Soda#

Sept 28 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre

Sept 30 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall%

Oct 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall%

Oct 2 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues%

Oct 3 – Chicago, IL – Reggies%

Oct 4 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater%

Oct 6 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater^

Oct 7 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot^

Oct 8 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club^

Oct 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre^

Oct 11 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater^

Oct 12 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon^

Oct 15 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theatre&

Oct 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco&

# with Sacred Reich, Hirax, Void

% with Sacred Reich, Hirax, Interceptor

^ with Sacred Reich, Vio-Lence, Midnight, Interceptor

& with Sacred Reich, Vio-Lence, Hirax, Midnight, Interceptor

 




At the start of the summer is when Midnight would announce a headlining show taking place in Los Angeles County, at where else the Poor Kids Mansion. Where they have headlined previously, it being a house, it was indeed a backyard show, the tickets selling out over time, with tickets only available at the door night of the show. Opening up would be Ghoul along with some other local acts, doors being at 7PM, show kicked off at 7:30PM with the other acts playing out. 

Having worked this evening, catching the last two bands was the best bet out there. Upon arriving, getting checked in, and browsing around the various merch booths set up, grabbing a few things, then taking a spot for Ghoul, who got the crowd in a total uproar of chaos.

The character interactions with the band were hilarious, the characters getting unalived, spraying blood and guts upon the crowd. Whilst the crowd erupted in cheers and lots of movement with pushing, shoving, stage diving, crowd surfing, just so much happening all at once it was brutal. Ghoul as always throw on a great show, with plenty of crowd participation, heavy duty rawness energy, with so much momentum delivered out, it was so much fun, everyone was embracing it all really.

GHOUL:


 

Following Ghoul would be headliners Midnight, and while a lot of people not all but some had left after the previous bands performances, Midnight would still bring in the hellfire. Capturing so much action with various people jumping off the stage directly into the crowd, with others crowd surfing, to all others moshing every which way possible.  It was fast, intense and truly heavy metal for all to witness. Lots of angst and energy ever flowing it had the whole experience that more enjoyable.

MIDNIGHT:


 

All in all it was yet another backyard show for the masses, that had so much fun, humorous moments, and everyone just getting along, having a good old time together, enjoying the atmosphere that was music. 



Having seen headliners Exciter back in the early summer time that was May, was quite an evening, having had a guy literally pass out to the floor, having an ambulance called on him as well as the show being cut short, it was a very interesting night back then. Now 2 months later, Exciter is out on the road some more with this being the second night of the tour, it being semi-sold out! Happening out in Orange County in Santa Anna at a venue called La Santa, it was something else this night.

Some minor mishaps beforehand may have gotten in the way, but upon arriving to the venue, mistaken having thought of purchasing the tickets but apparently not, luckily able to buy tickets still available at the door! Paying $40 each ticket was steep but still not bad, the venue on the other hand was one that had a stair case leading downwards, and once insides you were greeted with a bar, and the stage with no AC whatsoever. Having gotten to the venue late, not catching the very opening act Hellwitch sadly, but did catch Wraith, who I had seen a while back as well, was fun to see them yet again. Their set was caught in the middle, but still quite good nonetheless, them playing stuff off their newest album, along with other material too. They being speed thrash metal punk heads, made their tunes catchy and rather upbeat, getting those there into it from start to finish.

Next up would be co-headliners Midnight, whose previous appearance was at a back yard gig not that long ago, and then they were great, tonight they were just as great if not more awesome! They ended up playing a lengthy set of a solid hour straight, getting the whole audience pumped and hyped up! The headbanger’s banging their heads, mosh pit flowing rowdily, with all else there just digging the grooves. A lot of their material was played off their own newest album, as well as older working’s, all really though got everyone moving non-stop really. It was a flawless yet so entertainingly fun performance that they know how to put on a good show. So much so that everyone there had to take a step outside for a breather, now that’s how to get the crowd ramped up.

MIDNIGHT:

 





Headliners would be Exciter of course, their speed heavy metal antics being delivered yet fun. The crowd was slowly coming back into the venue, having taken a breather outside, made Exciter’s performance, very relaxing. The mosh pit was still active with others banging their heads as well, but it was more mellow and toned down. Making their performance easy listening but still a lot of fun. This being a trio act just made their performance much more eye catching. One of the catchier songs was probably “Breaking Down the Walls”, along with “Iron Dogs”, “Violence and Force” as well!

EXCITER:

 




 

All in all though, this touring trek was only on it’s second night, and both nights were sold out performances, that made the acts themselves quite pleased, and its crowd of on lookers more enthralled than ever before. Metal is still truly alive and well, not to be fading away at all ever.


SETLIST:

1. The Holocaust
2. Stand Up and Fight
3. Heavy Metal Maniac
4. Breakdown the Walls
5. Iron Dogs
6. Evil Sinner
7. Pounding Metal
8. Beyond the Gats of Doom
9. Violence and Force
10. Long Live the Loud
11. Iron Fist (Motorhead Song Cover - featuring Athenar of Midnight on vocals)

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