Wrexham’s Rogue Angels aren’t here to reinvent rock ’n’ roll. Frankly, they’d probably consider the suggestion an insult. Right Side Of Midnight is five tracks of denim-jacket classic rock built from big choruses, crunchy guitars and the sort of riffs designed to sound considerably better after somebody’s bought the first round.
The title track, ‘Right Side Of Midnight’, makes their intentions obvious immediately. There’s AC/DC muscle underneath it, but also that shinier early-’80s melodic-rock instinct the band clearly adore. Mikey Dream sells it with conviction rather than irony, while Ian Edwards and Joe Evans give the track enough guitar weight to stop proceedings wandering into tribute-band territory. The chorus sticks quickly, perhaps a little too predictably, but Rogue Angels understand something increasingly overlooked: a rock song is allowed to be fun.
‘Seven Year Itch’ tightens things considerably. Already picking up local radio recognition, it’s easy to understand why. There’s more urgency here, Dominic Gallagher’s bass and Darren Collins’ drums giving the guitars something sturdy to batter against. It feels like the point where Rogue Angels stop displaying their influences and start sounding more comfortable in their own skin. The production remains deliberately unfussy, although a little more separation between the guitars would give the hooks additional punch. DIY shouldn’t necessarily mean everything occupying the space in the mix.
‘You Talk Too Much’ brings attitude to the front. Its rebellious and gives the writing some personality, and there’s a welcome Billy Idol-ish sneer running through proceedings. It’s catchy without becoming lightweight, although the band could push the character further.
Rogue Angels have created someone fun here, Its my favourite tune from the EP
Then comes ‘Liza’, and suddenly the beer gets put down.
Taking homelessness as its subject without turning somebody’s suffering into sentimental rock-star theatre is difficult, but Rogue Angels largely manage it.
Its Radio Wigwam awards nomination makes sense because ‘Liza’ demonstrates that this band can do considerably more than knock out Saturday-night rockers. It also points towards where Rogue Angels could become genuinely distinctive.
Classic rock has enough songs about desire, highways and staying out late; songs observing the uncomfortable world outside the venue are considerably rarer.
‘Straight From The Heart’ closes proceedings by bringing the EP back towards its melodic centre. There’s Free in the bones and Bon Jovi in the ambition, with a chorus clearly intended for voices considerably larger in number than five blokes in a rehearsal room.
It’s an effective finish, slower and more melodic a nice unexpected musical turn . A stripped-back section, guitar break that takes a genuine risk, or even a little silence before the final charge could turn a good closer into a memorable one.
That’s ultimately the challenge facing Rogue Angels. They’re good at classic rock — perhaps occasionally too respectful of it. AC/DC, Free, Billy Idol and early Bon Jovi are formidable foundations, but they’re also enormous shadows.
The next stage isn’t learning how to write better versions of the music they grew up loving; it’s working out which bits of Rogue Angels couldn’t possibly have come from anybody else.
Their recurring Angel-and-Demon character Kane suggests there’s already a stranger imagination lurking beneath the surface. Let more of that bastard out.
Recorded between their rehearsal space and a home studio in Coedpoeth, with Bijan Tayari engineering the drums, Right Side Of Midnight benefits from the band’s hands-on approach.
Out NOW! Right Side Of Midnight captures a Wrexham band with dirt beneath its fingernails and absolutely no embarrassment about loving proper, uncomplicated rock music. Upcoming dates at Rhyl’s Late Lounge and Buckley’s Tivoli should suit these songs perfectly, because you suspect volume and a sweaty room will expose their strongest qualities.
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