Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Midnight Force have made tremendous strides in their two years of existence. In late 2016, the fledgling quartet released a well-received EP entitled Restless Blade. Now, barely a year later, Midnight Force return with their full-length debut, Dunsinane, which some will recognize as the infamous site of Macbeth’s defeat and demise in Shakespearean lore. You know, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” The eight-song album reproduces just one track (the excellent “Crystal Talon”) from the EP, as well as both cuts from the “Scarlet Citadel” digital single released last summer. With striking black-and-white detailed (and apparently hand-drawn) cover artwork, a different distinctive symbol depicted in the CD booklet to accompany each song, and a decidedly old-school DIY flair, Midnight Force definitely have captured a certain specific visual aesthetic. There is no question that Dunsinane is rough around the edges. A polished diamond this is not. But it is exciting to hear a young band taking a time-honored, well-worn sound and making it feel fresh. Midnight Force have taken some chances. They’re not just blindly adhering to the paint-by-numbers Diamond Head / Angel Witch playbook. A band steeped in the genre classics while still retaining a devil-may-care sense of experimentation is the type of band that can move this style of music forward in the 21st century rather than being trapped in the past. For all its work-in-progress qualities, Dunsinane is highly enjoyable, both in its own right and for what it may portend for our beloved music should Midnight Force put all the pieces together and perfect their craft on album #2.
