by Franco Cerchiari
— Sr. Journalist —
Some 11 years after 2007’s Appointment With Death comes the polished, cleaner version of Lizzy Borden, titled My Midnight Things the album has been released on the Metal Blade Records label. Formed in 1983 by lead singer “Lizzy Borden” and his brother Joey Scott, the moniker came from the infamous ax-wielding woman who was tried (and acquitted) in the murder of her parents in 1812. My Midnight Things hits (for the most part) on all the right chords, with the songs being musically tight, melodious, most of which are accessible, cheerful, and upbeat and with a certain bit of surprise the keyboards taking a more prominent place than heard on past releases. Heavy guitar riffs are plentiful, but certainly on the hardest song on the release “Our Love Is God.” Overall though, coming across almost not as heavy as that which is heard on Appointment With Death, the sounds heard here rest somewhere between Melodic Metal with elements of Melodic Hard Rock.
Starting strong, My Midnight Things is a fun album to turn up loud, sing along to but as the album plays out, the latter half of the record just doesn’t unite the listener with the band, making the songs feel disjointed and sad to say, just OK. Acoustic versions of the hard rocking title track and track three, “Long May They Haunt Us,” are included, as well is an updated, almost Punk, rougher retelling of “Waiting In The Wings,” a song originally heard on 1989’s Master Of Disguise, and – brace yourself – clear out of left field, comes a rather strange revision of the Christmas classic “Silent Night.”
But let’s talk about the good songs. The title track was outstanding with its strong guitars, soaring chorus and layers of vocal harmonies and refined keyboards. The true CD highlight, “A Stranger To Love,” couldn’t be turned up loud enough, and also good was the hard rocking “Obsessed With You,” and the drums of “Long May They Haunt Us,” (that almost sounds like something Volbeat would release,) was excellent. “The Perfect Poison” was good and “Run Away With Me” started gentle enough but soon becomes a strong Melodic Rocker, with a great mid track guitar solo.
It’s so evident that Lizzy Borden is going to do what he wants. Write the songs he wants, plays like he wants, and release the songs he wants. For better or worse his attitude is all over My Midnight Things with the good, the not so good, and everything in between all there in all its glory. By and large, a good album, not one of his best, but let it be said, Lizzy Borden has been around for a hell of a long time – damn near 35 years – and when put in those terms, a band with the loyal fan base that Lizzy Borden does have, it must be said, they must be doing something right.
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Metal
Band Members:
Lizzy Borden – (v)(g)(b)(k)
Marliese Quance Mildenberger – (k)
Joey Scott – (d)
Track Listing:
1. My Midnight Things
2. Obsessed With You
3. Long May They Haunt Us
4. The Scar Across My Heart
5. A Stranger To Love
6. The Perfect Poison
7. Run Away With Me
8. Our Love Is God
9. My Midnight Things (Reprise)
10. We Belong To The Shadows
11. Long May They Haunt Us (Reprise)
12. Silent Night
13. Waiting In The Wings (2018 Version)
Label: Metal Blade Records
Online: www.lizzyborden.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(7 / 10)
