No matter how much the mainstream media denigrates or ignores heavy metal it not only survives, but thrives and with bands such as Tailgunner on the scene, that’s no surprise. After a long gestation, Tailgunner burst into life in 2022 with a series of singles and an EP before hitting the bullseye the following year with their debut album, Guns For Hire. Since then the band have been putting in the roadwork, picking up fans en route and laying a solid foundation on their quest towards global domination. With sophomore album Midnight Blitz in their arsenal, Tailgunner’s world conquest seems a mere formality and ensures their (and metal’s) flame will burn brightly many years hence.
With a brief air raid siren sending a warning to the curious, Tailgunner arrive with all guitars firing and proceed to set speakers ablaze with the majestic title-track. At once heavy and melodic, it adheres the band to the listener and immediately sets follicles flying and air guitars shredding. Those with a penchant for pure, unadulterated heavy metal will find a spiritual home here, Tailgunner delivering an abject lesson in all that makes the genre great from the duelling guitars, the pounding rhythm section, alongside soaring vocals. Metal has always been an absorbent genre, soaking up everything from rap to punk, but that means it can sometimes deviate too far from its original course. However, with Midnight Blitz Tailgunner are resetting the compass and pointing the good ship metal towards its true destination.
vyNowadays, with bands such as The Darkness and Steel Panther deconstructing heavy metal and operating with a tongue-in-cheek vibe, it would be easy for Tailgunner to be viewed as pastiche or some kind of tribute act if it wasn’t for a vital ingredient: honesty. Tailgunner have a love for the genre and a balls-to-the-wall belief which means that their integrity is never in question. Tailgunner make no bones about their influences (the clues in their name), and fans of Maiden, Riot, Grim Reaper and Judas Priest (former priest legend K.K. Downing produced this album) will find much to admire in cuts such as ‘Tears In Rain’ and ‘Blood Sacrifice’. In fact, with bands like Iron Maiden moving further into progressive rock territory, Tailgunner are fulfilling a vital role and delivering that lightning-in-a-bottle brand of metal found on albums like Killers and Powerslave.
Midnight Blitz is a horns-held, high-foot-on-monitor celebration of metal that will appeal to metalheads both young and old. At the end of every festival season a question gets more urgent with each passing year, namely: who are the future headliners? The answer can be found in Tailgunner and Midnight Blitz.
- Midnight Blitz is released via Napalm Records on 6th February 2026.
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Track List:
1. Midnight Blitz
2. Tears In Rain
3. Follow Me In Death
4. Dead Until Dark
5. Barren Lands And Seas Of Red
6. War In Heaven
7. Blood Sacrifice
8. Night Raids
9. Eye Of The Storm
10. Eulogy
