Release Date: March 18th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Satan’s Grin - Tracklisting
1.Satan's Grin 06:38
2.The Decline 04:21
3.Rocking Chair 05:12
Members
Guitars, Vocals and Lyrics by Darren Ironside
Bass on 'The Decline' by Samuel Jurrell
Drums- Loius Osman
Review
Satan’s Grin is the new EP from Doom/Stoner Rockers Midnight Whiskey Massacre who play an intoxicating mix of Psych, Punk, Alternative, Blues, Fuzz and Southern Rock on their new EP. This feels like a classic sounding Post-Punk band finding the joys of Stoner Rock/Metal and just saying “FUCK IT” lets play whatever comes to mind. There’s a sense of experimental creative freedom on this EP with Midnight Whiskey Massacre feeling inspired by the likes of The Pogues for a start.
Lead vocalist Darren Ironside feels like he’s channeling Shane McGowan and Mark E Smith at times. This shouldn’t really work but the blistering WEEDIAN grooves with the Post-Punk lyrics is downright original and brilliant at times especially on the excellent opening track Satan’s Grin. The song is too wonderfully surreal to fully describe and the chaotic style of Black Sabbath / Electric Wizard based grooves that are merged with a subtle Classic Hard Rock sound leave you wondering how crazy can this EP actually become. And the answer is quite simple with Midnight Whiskey Massacre continuing on the same style of Decadence and Debauchery on the final two tracks.
The final two tracks of The Decline and Rocking Chair do have more of a reliance on Proto-Doom sounds with a subtle Thrash based attitude appearing within The Decline which reminds me of Metallica in places before the band return to the Doom/Stoner realm. Though, the Post-Punk vibe of Darren’s vocals are never fully absorbed into the Doom/Stoner Metal world which the EP wholly becomes a part of when the final moments of Rocking Chair is fully over.
Satan’s Grin is quite a deceptive and deceiving EP with Midnight Whiskey Massacre creating their own great style of music where I wanted the band to include perhaps one final track with the fantastic instrumental sounds that Darren, Samuel and Louis fully commit themselves to. Though, the real highlight is Darren’s superbly offbeat vocals and insightful lyrics which you don’t fully come across within the underground scene.
I want a full length record now and I want it now GODDAMMIT!!!
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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