This comp from Midnight, a one-man metal machine, is so primitive and devolved, you can practically feel your brow thicken as it spins. Led by heavy-metal heathen Athenar (aka Boulder’s Jamie Walters), every song here is a primal ripper about killing or humping, recalling the bloody hedonism of ’80s greats like Venom and Tankard.

Compiled from a series of 7″ and EP releases, Total F@#cking Midnight is raunchy and proudly rudimentary. With his hoarse bark, Athenar comes off as Satan with a stubbed toe on tunes that range from whiplash thrash (“Turn Up the Hell”) to grinding come-ons (“Endless Slut”). The production is almost as dry as Athenar’s wit, and is pointedly hard on the ears. But for old-school headbangers, Total F@#cking Midnight is a total f@#king must-have.

This article appears in Jun 15-21, 2005.