TAILGUNNER's "Midnight Blitz," due February 6 via Napalm Records, has earned strong advance reviews praising its pure, unfiltered heavy metal energy and the unmistakable stamp of its legendary producer. The Soundboard Reviews calls it "a high-energy showcase of classic NWOBHM-inspired metal that burns with the fire of a band determined to prove their debut was no fluke."
Produced by former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing at his Astbury Hall studio, the 10-track sophomore album draws heavily from the British heavy metal tradition that Downing himself helped forge during his tenure with JUDAS PRIEST from 1969 to 2011. Downing's production ear brings a clarity and power to TAILGUNNER's sound that elevates the material, ensuring every galloping riff and soaring vocal line hits with maximum impact. His involvement lends the album an authenticity that few modern traditional metal releases can claim.
Highlights include "War In Heaven," which features guest keyboards from Adam Wakeman — son of YES legend Rick Wakeman and a veteran of Ozzy Osbourne's band — adding symphonic grandeur to an already epic track. The anthemic title track "Midnight Blitz" is destined to become a live staple, with its fist-pumping chorus and twin-guitar harmonies that recall the golden era of IRON MAIDEN and SAXON.
TAILGUNNER have been at the forefront of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal movement that has seen younger bands reviving the classic British metal sound with genuine passion and skill. "Midnight Blitz" proves they are more than just nostalgia merchants — they are delivering authentic metal for a new generation, guided by the steady hand of one of the genre's founding architects.