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Midnight Forces

    
       
       
       
     
             
Inner Axis are a heavy metal band from Germany formed in 2008, releasing three albums to date - 'Into The Storm' (2011), 'We Live By The Steel' (2017), and 'Midnight Forces' (2024).    
             
Hailing from Kiel in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, Inner Axis return to the fold after seven years to pummel listeners with a fifty two minute barrage of unabashed and unadulterated traditional "foot on the monitor" heavy metal - 'Midnight Forces' containing ten fist pumping anthems to rock the head hard of every single metalhead around the world! The band are in feisty mood, setting the album on its way with the heavy hitting 'I Am The Storm' - and a glorious old school gallop! Inner Axis are striding tall here, pounding the ground hard and raising the heart rate of every single listener around the world!    
             
And without dropping the levels of energy and oomph, 'Midnight Forces' marches on with the faster and even heavier hitting 'Strike Of The Cobra' - the worldwide mosh pits turning into a frantic sea of banging heads! Inner Axis seem to have this uncanny knack of being able to rock the head of anyone and everyone, the bands music just so fucking infectious - 'Midnight Hunter' delivering the finest old school gallop this side of legendary metallers Iron Maiden. Pulsating with extreme head bang ability, 'Midnight Hunter' is a majestic romp of smile inducing heavy metal with a gigantic "listen to me" attitude! And listen you will, for this is exactly the way traditional heavy metal should sound - 'This Is The Way' dropping a gear to adopt a more sedate pace than heard so far. I say sedate, but really mean an anthemic march, the band quickening their stride to a canter, resuming a march when the chorus break chimes in - 'This Is The Way' coming at ya directly from the heart of heavy metal territory! As has the album so far!    
             
'Evil Dead' turns up the heat and roars on at full throttle, Inner Axis changing gear throughout to deliver a pace changing romp of punchy, crunchy heavy metal with an insane level of head bang ability! Head bang ability that's a major part of the bands soundscape, for I haven't stopped rocking my head back and forth since the album began - and neither have you I'll bet! The album's just so fucking infectious, 'Spartan War-Cry' launching forth with a phenomenal rabble rousing call to arms feel, the band pounding the ground just as hard as legendary anthemic metallers Manowar ever did! Inner Axis are at their most elegant here, delivering an anthem that every listener, fan and follower will get behind - 'Midnight Forces' erupting in a blaze of fire with the scorching pace of 'Steelbladed Avenger'. The speed here is supersonic, 'Steelbladed Avenger' the fastest song heard so far, although the band do change gear and tempo a few times before the song runs its course!    
             
And speed remains high as 'Midnight Forces' gallops on with 'Master & Commander', the band not letting the energy level drop - just where do Inner Axis get their energy from! It's bewildering for sure, but also exhilarating - 'Master & Commander' the latest breath taking song on an unrelenting and unforgiving album of pure heavy metal! And with only two songs left to go, there's absolutely no sign of the incredible pace, energy, and head bang ability disappearing anytime soon, the band storming on with 'Burn With Me', and another fast and furious old school gallop! In fact, the gallop here could well be the fastest on offer, the chorus break a gloriously melodic affair that's immensely sing-able! 'Midnight Forces' has been a non stop roller coaster of all out heavy metal since it began, the roller coaster coming to an end with the eight minutes plus 'Blade Of Glory'. By far and away the longest song on offer, 'Blade Of Glory' opens in elegant fashion, building tension and anticipation over its first minute or so, striding on with shoulders back and head held high. The band are at their most majestic here, ending 'Midnight Forces' with a bold swagger through the epic and glory genres of heavy metal.    
             
Overall, a full on and energetic romp of infectious and highly head bang-able heavy metal, 'Midnight Forces' is non stop exhilaration.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Fastball Music    
             
Review is also featured at Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
We Live By The Steel      
           
"an album of heavy metal meets power metal, packed with anthemic and epic songs, much in a similar vein to Manowar and Judas Priest" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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