Review: Tailgunner- Midnight Blitz
Release date: 2/6/26
Label: Napalm Records
Greg D.
The NWOTHM. The New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal. Not just the name of a website, but a musical movement, obviously. When did this movement begin? That answer is in the eye of the beholder, however, there was a moment for me that precipitated it coming back as such a force that it ultimately warranted a familiar acronym to describe it. That moment is Enforcer’s 2008 album, “Into The Night”. It just seemed like it set something off, and suddenly more & more bands of that ilk had a presence that elicited greater awareness. That was eighteen years ago.
2026. February 6th. Eighteen years after the NWOTHM, arguably, kicked off, the movement may finally have an album, and a band, destined for larger pastures. Tailgunner, England formed in 2022, have kicked up quite a storm in an alarmingly short period of time. Debuting with the EP “Crashdive”, (oddly enough, produced by Olaf Wikstrom of Enforcer) also in 2022, and following it with their first full length “Guns For Hire” in 2023. Admittedly, “Guns For Hire” didn’t garner much of a look from me. Is it good? Yes. Did it hold my attention? Not really. Enter their newest album, “Midnight Blitz”.
First of all, the promotion for this album has been unavoidable. Music/lyric videos, tours, Metallica tribute albums. They’ve been everywhere. Getting a seal of approval from a bonafide heavy metal legend (album producer, K.K. Downing) is sure to get a few extra looks their way as well. With all that in mind, and with eyes and ears open and pointed at Tailgunner, they have stepped up to the plate with an album that is, simply put, arena ready. Anyone coming here expecting blatant Judas Priest, or Iron Maiden, worship, will leave either surprised or disappointed. This album probably has more in common with Euro Power Metal than classic British heavy metal, but they definitely have more muscle than your average Euro Power Metal band.
Like ginormous choruses? If you do, you’ll be pleased to know that Tailgunner does as well. Every song has sing-a-long qualities to it, which are no doubt great in a live setting. Singer Craig Cairns’ tone is PERFECT for this kind of metal. Good range without getting screetchy, and delivered powerfully. “Tears In Rain”, & the title track, surge with all the glory and anthemic splendor that you’d want from steamrolling heavy metal. Dig burning guitars? The guitar work throughout the record is all right on the money. Check out “Barren Lands And Seas Of Red”, it swings a little riffier to let axefolk Rhea Thompson & Zach Savini stretch their legs more aggressively. Now, it’s one thing to be able to blast forth and kill, but the song “War In Heaven” is where Tailgunner really backs up their bark and shows they’re not fucking around. Subduded, Savatage level dramatic, & epic, this song should probably be the next single as it reveals the band’s ability to downshift seemlessly.
“Eulogy”. This song is a helluva way to end an album. Storming, speedy, and y’know how we were talking about choruses earlier? This is the biggest and best one yet. The kind of thing that says, “stick around for the next album”. A great piece of post production in the sequencing putting it last, very well done. It’s hard to find any fault with this record. If I was going to imagine this kind of metal album, this is exactly what it would be. The band has delivered, & it’s hard to ask for more than that, innit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnsTQq_8mR8&list=RDnnsTQq_8mR8&start_radio=1
Conclusion
Now, I don’t know how this works with other styles of music, but in hard rock/heavy metal there seems to be a time honored tradition of baton passing. I have a tendency to say: “If you want to know what the future is going to sound like, pay attention to who’s riding in on the backs of the present.” Van Halen with Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden with Kiss, Metallica with Ozzy Osbourne, and a handful of others, are all examples of this. Now, with this second album from Tailgunner, I don’t know that the saying I mentioned applies to them in the same way it did for Van Halen, Iron Maiden, or Metallica. Tailgunner is not shaking things up, or taking the sound into another dimension. They’re simply reinforcing things that are already great. However, that aforementioned saying might apply to Tailgunner in a much simpler, and direct way.
People generally seem to want their own heroes, they don’t always want the heroes of their older siblings, parents, etc. While Tailgunner are legend approved, they have a long way to go to become legends themselves, and it’s looking like they have a lot of things lining up for them. They are young, they are talented, they appear committed, & it sure seems like they have strong backing on the business end of things. All of those things are VERY important. That said, the most important thing is if this album sucked, none of that would matter. This album does not suck. Get into it.
TheNwothm Score: 10/10
Links
Bandcamp:https://tailgunner.bandcamp.com/album/midnight-blitz
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tailgunnerhq/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tailgunnerhq/
Label:https://napalmrecords.com/english
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNrUYShK_38&list=RDiNrUYShK_38&start_radio=1
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