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The revival of first-wave Black Metal is in full swing and a number of bands like Guerra Total and Witch Grave are plying the waters first despoiled by Newcastle, U.K.'s Venom. Cleveland's Midnight has released a slew of singles, demos and splits but the band's second album, No Mercy for Mayhem, is my first exposure. All the classic Venom hallmarks are present from the fast-and-loose Thrash with a punk vibe to the NWOBHM soloing to the semi-harsh vocals that often go off-key to underscore the hellish lyrics. Speaking of those lyrics, they are the over-the-top satanic stuff that scared the bejeezus out of us in the 80s but seem tame by today's standards. Songs like "Evil Like a Knife," "The Final Rape of Night" and "Woman of Flame" leave little to the imagination and directly channel the atmosphere of the first three Venom albums. This is good stuff, especially if you like old Venom, but I can't say the songwriting or playing is of a quality that is able to transcend their derivative nature.

No Mercy for Mayhem suffers from what a lot of material of today does in that it sounds like a lot of other stuff that is available, both old and new. That shouldn't stop the old-school Thrash or Speed Metal fan from checking it out, though. The mark Midnight is shooting for may be well worn but they hit it straight on.