RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT - Thrill Killer
Pictured: McKenz, Pav, RJ + Foulzy - RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
Photo courtesy of RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
A Funny Rocky Lockdown Filler
Written by: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
If you’ve ever heard people say that Australia doesn’t have a music ‘culture’, RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT are proof that they’re very wrong.
Melbourne based band RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT have been gigging around Victoria for at least the last 5 years, combining classic rock vibes with having a bloody good time. With bands like TWELVE FOOT NINJA, OSAKA PUNCH and HAMMERS combining extraordinary prog-metal talent with comic genius on the Aussie circuit in recent years, it would be safe to say that RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT take a pinch of that flavour and mix it with a more straightforward rock ‘n’ roll sound and laidback party vibes. This carefree attitude makes it difficult to pigeon-hole them as a genre but with comparisons made to bands like MOTÖRHEAD and KING DIAMOND I guess you would categorise them as hard rock/metal. The difference is that these guys bring a different salt shaker to the table… the Aussie flavour!
Without giving too much away, let’s get into the review.
Pictured: Foulzy, Pav, RJ + McKenz - RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
Photo courtesy of RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
The Review
Thrill Killer is the first song from the self-titled debut album Riot After Midnight released on 1 January 2021 through Electric Circus Records. The song combines boisterous four to the floor riffage and obnoxious vocals that for some reason, remind me of the overacted voices from MONTY PYTHON’s The Holy Grail in an Aussie accent. If you’re expecting deep and meaningful lyrics, you’re listening to the wrong record. That being said you can’t help but laugh at the ironically serious tone of FOULZY asserting the journey of a troupe of punk renegades on a fantastical (perhaps delusional) mission as the honourable rulers of the night. Likewise, if you’re a stickler for complex riffs, time signatures and production dynamics you’ll need to take off your analytical hat and just enjoy some good old fashioned rock.
The simplistic rhythm and straightforward tones make the comical lyrics easy to nod along to and is definitely reminiscent of their classic hard rock influences. Another cool feature is that it gets better the louder you play it, which makes me think ‘I gotta see these guys live!’. Speaking of playing live, in April RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT supported Brisbane band SNAKE BITE WHISKEY and helped to sell out the show at Whole Lotta Love in Brunswick, VIC. Apparently they had the whole place jumping and drew so much interest that people unable to get in were watching through the windows at the front door on the street. At the heart of it, this music is just about having a good time.
The Video
Despite being the first song on the album, Thrill Killer is the latest video release, with 6 Months Wasted, Light Up the Night and Flying In Time all being released as singles with their own video clips. The video for Thrill Killer is where this song really comes into its own. It opens with a choreographed narrative of the boys kicking back to play some video games and jumps straight into the screen view of a videogame. That’s where things get really weird. With real life figures of the band inserted into an animated fantasy world that you would otherwise only imagine on mushrooms, the story unfolds of a mission to make it inside the ‘Fashion Metal Castle’. Cutting between shots of the boys on the couch and back inside the video game I am reminded of the opening Cracker Night by HAMMERS where the song is contextualised by a comically acted narrative. The lyrics and the music are an extension of the light-hearted nature of the band members themselves.
As the animated world follows the song in it’s odd twists, the song cuts back to the real world as the boys throw up their hands in disappointment to leave before having it revealed that there’s an R-rated version of the game which renews their light-hearted interest. Whatever your thoughts about the remaining content of the video game you’ve gotta respect these guys for having a blast.
The Verdict
RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT live up to their name as being an absolute riot – a whole lotta fun. Thrill Killer is a perfect example of what these guys are about – chugging riffs, solid beats and as Australian music culture is making clear… having a bloody good time! The video is a fun dive into their world behind the music which definitely makes it work as a package. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that seeing them live will double the punch of their hard rock experience but until then, we’ll just have to wait in eager anticipation of their next video.
7/10
More from RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT…
Pictured: RJ, Foulzy, Pav + McKenz - RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
Photo courtesy of RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
