Metal Hammer
Ken Jordan

April 1996

Without a hint of irony, Midnight at Donington begins with a thumping homage to Ozzy Ozbourne. The lyric, "People think I'm insane, because I come from England", roars heavy over a raw chord sequence that reminds you of Paranoid. And in a similar way to that classic, it grabs you by the bollocks and really puts you in the mood. This opener, Rusted Bones, is a real cracker and definitely sets the tone for the rest of the record.

Highlights on the LP include the highly political "Slaves to Darkness" and the current single "The Crucifixion", which has been getting huge amounts of airplay on the American college radio circuit. A fact that is guaranteed to help sales, but also to ensure its overuse on a million whingeing teenage television programs. The album's absolute corker though, has to be "The Magic Door" featuring a guest appearance by Kirk Hammett of Metallica. His cocksure guitar skills give the track a real edge that would otherwise make it come off like a poor man's Stairway. It's a song that is really crying out to be called epic but actually ends up falling just short of the mark.

For those of you not familiar with Kalle Ryan, it is worth mentioning that he has been around for quite a while making different kinds of music, but this is his first metal album proper. As a result, a lot of punters were writing this album off before it even appeared, but ultimately it holds its own and deserves a listen.

Apparently the album was recorded in just 26 days, and that slightly rough unfinished feel is what makes the album as strong as it is. Sometimes that energy is what keeps the whole record joined together. Definitely an album for those of you into real rawness in a recording. Not for lightweights. Overall, an impressive collection of aggressive metal tracks for a first timer.