Where do you go after four classy albums of 80’s Hard Rock styled anthems and ballads, with arguably each new release surpassing the previous release? Well let’s just say for the moment that 5th time appears to be the charm, and if you feared there was no place Midnite City could go from there think again because like I said last time, this might just be your favourite yet…
I’ve been a fan of Rob Wylde’s songwriting for many years now since the Teenage Casket Company days, and his albums with Midnite City since that killer debut in 2017 have been consistently jaw dropping if you love your 80’s flavoured Melodic Rock. Of all the bands doing this kind of thing at the moment I’d have Midnite City right up there with Crazy Lixx and Reckless Love as my big three. It’s music that harks back to when music was fun, when there was nothing to do on a weekend but have a good time, when hair was big, eyeliner was compulsory and spandex was mined day and night.
We’ve loved every minute so far. The band have previously released four critically acclaimed albums, with their follow-up album ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ being listed as one the greatest albums in the history of Burrn Magazine in Japan, and all their releases riding high in The Rockpit’s Top releases of their respective years. Since that debut Midnite City have since travelled the globe, headlining countless tours of the UK, alongside shows all over Europe, America, Brazil, Australia, and two sold out tours of Japan.
This one though is big, maybe the biggest so far! We caught up with Rob last week and talked through the album track-by-track so here’s our thoughts one by one…
‘Live Like Ya Mean It’ is the classic opener — a fist-pumping anthem that has a Poison-like guitar opening and swagger to spare. It’s the perfect way to start the record: sleazy, confident, and packed with the kind of arena-ready hooks that have defined Midnite City from day one. It’s the sound of a band firing on all cylinders, and it sets the scene perfectly for what’s to come — big choruses, bigger solos, and melodies that could light up the night sky.
‘Worth Fighting For’ follows hot on its heels, another mid-tempo rocker that bursts with melody and features one of several killer solos on the record by Miles Meakin. This is feel-good rock and roll that could change the gloomiest mood to bright lights and big smiles. There’s a certain defiance in the lyrics and a warmth in the melody that makes it instantly relatable — one of those tracks you can imagine soundtracking a late-night drive with the windows down.
‘It’s Going To Be Alright’, the first ballad, is a big one — a love song that Midnite City do so well. Rob Wylde just seems to have this in his DNA. Dripping with emotion, soaring melodies, and a chorus made to sing along to, it’s the kind of song that stops you in your tracks. It has that cinematic quality — a lighter-in-the-air moment that will no doubt be a live favourite.
The latest single, ‘Heaven In This Hell’, has a key-heavy opening and crawls into view as gang vocals cut in before bursting into life and slipping into an almost Bon Jovi-like chorus that underlines the melody. It’s a killer song, punchy and dramatic, but wouldn’t have been my first choice of single. The good news is that if you love it, as the early responses seem to indicate, you’ll love the record even more.
‘Running Back To Your Heart’ is one of my picks here — a real Danger Danger/Trixter moment that’s so incredibly smooth and perfectly formed it drips with 80’s slick, sleek commercial rock goodness. It’s a song that shows Midnite City have perfected their art, from the drive of the bass and drums to the accents of keyboards, Rob’s assured melodic vocal, and Miles’ wonderful solo — it has it all. This is pure class and a highlight on an album full of them.
‘Lethal Dose Of Love’ provides a nice counterpoint with an earthier groove and some tasty guitar to open — a sing-along rocker that piles on the clichés that only Rob Wylde can get away with. It’s a great party song, built for the stage, and an inescapable sing-along moment that’s sure to get fists in the air and voices raised.
An interlude comes with the one-minute ‘Archer’s Song’, a languid, laid-back, airy keys-and-guitar instrumental that feels like a reflective breather before the final stretch. It floats in like a breeze, offering a touch of calm before the band comes roaring back — a nice tonal shift written by Shawn and named after his baby boy.
The longest song here, ‘Seeing Is Believing’, clocking in over the five-minute mark, is the huge ballad that will go down as one of Midnite City’s best. I love it — and if anyone can nail a power ballad, it’s Mr. Wylde. The verses build slowly, swelling into a chorus that hits like a wave, and the guitar solo is a masterclass in taste and restraint. It’s the kind of song that would’ve been a Top 10 hit in 1989, and proof that the band can balance heart and muscle like few others.
We go out in style too. Leading the way is ‘No One Wins’, a bittersweet break-up song full of emotion, saccharine-sweet melodies, and a real Journey feel. It’s a song that simply soars — melancholic yet hopeful, with Miles once again nailing the perfect solo. There’s a maturity in both the writing and performance that shows just how far this band has come.
The penultimate track, ‘Hang On Til Tomorrow’, gets back to rocking. With a chugging riff and keyboard-laced chorus, it’s a reminder of the sky-high bar Midnite City set in quality control. There’s nothing here that even remotely sniffs of filler — just great songwriting, immaculate production, and hooks for days. As we hit the home straight, it’s a reminder that no one really does this kind of melodic hard rock this well. If this was 1987 we’d be riding high in the charts.
Closer ‘When The Summer Ends’, the album’s second single out October 31st, is wonderful. Again, I get that real Journey-in-their-prime vibe. It’s a song that just flows, climbing melodically into the pre-chorus and then exploding into an unforgettable chorus. There’s a wistful quality to it — nostalgic yet uplifting — and depending on the day of the week, it might even just shade it as my favourite here.
They’ve unbelievably done it again. Five albums in, Midnite City just get better and better — and that’s some achievement when you look at their back catalogue. With Heaven In This Hell (from October 2nd) and When The Summer Ends (from October 31st) leading the way as singles, radio is already primed, but the real magic lies in hearing this record front to back. It’s everything you want from melodic rock in 2025 — heartfelt, hook-filled, and full of life.
As the press release ends: “Mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Chris Laney (Europe, Crash Diet, Crazy Lixx etc), Bite The Bullet delivers a sound that is made for the biggest stadiums around the globe, bringing back everything that was so thrilling, energetic, and flamboyant about late 80s Hair Metal in one fell swoop. Midnite City delivers the goods once again with an album that’s made to be cranked up to eleven and played loud! The party is just getting started…and everyone is invited. Catch the band on tour in 2025/ 2026.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves…
TRACKLIST:
01-Live Like Ya Mean It 4:44
02-Worth Fighting For 4:25
03-It’s Going To Be Alright 4:33
04-Heaven In This Hell 3:47
05-Running Back To Your Heart 4:47 MP3
06-Lethal Dose Of Love 3:59
07-Archer’s Song 1:08
08-Seeing Is Believing 5:06
09-No One Wins 4:33
10-Hang On Til Tomorrow 4:24
11-When The Summer Ends 4:41
