Midnight is an American blackened speed-metal project created by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Athenar, blending black metal, speed metal, punk and raw rock ’n’ roll into a deliberately stripped-down, aggressive sound. Formed in Cleveland in 2003, the project built an underground following through demos, splits and EPs before the 2011 album Satanic Royalty established Midnight more broadly with songs including “You Can’t Stop Steel,” “Rip This Hell” and the title track. Later albums such as No Mercy for Mayhem, Rebirth by Blasphemy, Let There Be Witchery and Hellish Expectations maintained Athenar’s mix of distorted riffs, rapid tempos and punk-driven attitude. The 2025 album Steel, Rust and Disgust paid tribute to Cleveland and Ohio music through covers alongside original tracks including “Cleveland Metal” and the title song.
