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Midnight Road Rage

    
       
       
       
     
             
Rockin' Engine are a heavy metal band from Canada forming in 2015 and releasing their debut album 'Midnight Road Rage' in 2019.    
             
When releasing albums, many bands stay true to their one chosen musical direction, not exploring other styles of music as perception is they must fit into just the one category of music. This is not the case with Canada's latest export, Rockin' Engine - who meander through a high number of genres with their debut album 'Midnight Road Rage'. Under the banner of a "heavy metal" band, Rockin' Engine rock the genres of metal, hard rock, thrash, Southern rock and sleaze rock, throwing in a touch of the blues and jazz too... With eight songs across forty minutes, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.    
             
Opening with the sleaze rock sassy swagger of 'Shake That Ass', Rockin' Engine launch their debut with an instant party anthem. Foot tapping, head nodding and beers in the air, 'Shake That Ass' will do just that. Think mid to late eighties Poison, Ratt and Cinderella, to gain an insight into the aura and vibe that Rockin' Engine display with the album opener. 'Let's Roll The Dice' ups the energy levels, moving the album in a more heavy hitting hard rocking direction. Punchy and beefy, 'Let's Roll The Dice' will make heads bang rather than nod, with foot tapping becoming foot stomping. Melodic heavy metal takes front and centre with the bombastic 'Livin' A Lie' cutting an infectious path of addictiveness, as it strides on by. 'When Engines Collide' is a raucous collision of metal and rock, a thundering barn storm of traditional heavy metal riffage that mirrors the classic sound of the galloping "foot on the monitor" style of metal.    
             
'Never Surrender' is the shortest song on offer at just three and a half minutes, but is also one of the heaviest. Blending a heavy hitting hard rock feel with the swagger of the Southern rock style, 'Never Surrender' has groove and attitude in equal measures. 'The State Of Nature' brings a thrash metal riffage to the album, taking a nod at the Megadeth style of thrash. At over six minutes in length, 'The State Of Nature' is a menacing rumble of a distant thunderstorm, a feeling of scary, late at night as you walk alone, and is also one of the best songs on offer. The versatility and diversity of the band has no boundaries, with 'Hiding In Darkness' taking the album straight into the heart of the traditional heavy metal genre. Heavy, and very hard hitting, 'Hiding In Darkness' is classic sounding heavy metal, has a catchy sing a long style chorus and is a far cry from the albums sassy opening song. And talking of sassy, the final song on offer has more sass than someone who is quick witted, clever and really cool... 'Road Rage Boogie' is sleaze rock infused with blues, jazz and, of course, boogie. Lyrically, 'Road Rage Boogie' is comical and humorous, musically, it is addictive and infectious, and overall, it is a joyful and playful romp. For example, "holy shit, that chick's a man", was an unexpected chorus line and one that made me chuckle. The entire song is a six minute chuckle, and a glorious party anthem to end the album.    
             
Overall, a bombastic and heavy hitting forty minutes of metal and rock, full of swagger and sass.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metalmessage    
             
Review is also featured at Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Altered By Evil E.P.      
           
"a thunderous stampede of thrash led traditional heavy metal, featuring a surprising but not unpleasant level of menace and aggression" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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