Album Review: Midnight Whiskey Massacre – Satan’s Grin
Artist: Midnight Whiskey Massacre
Title: Satan’s Grin
Label: Independent
Release date: March 18th, 2025
Country: England, UK
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording
Album Review: Midnight Whiskey Massacre – Satan’s Grin by Pegah
Midnight Whiskey Massacre is the solo project of Darren Ironside, a heavy rock artist from Hertfordshire, UK. Blending elements of stoner rock, doom, proto-metal, blues, punk, and heavy psych, Ironside crafts a sound defined by thick, fuzz-drenched riffs and apocalyptic themes. In March 2025, he released the EP “Satan’s Grin” – a searing, symbolic exploration of the unseen forces driving modern systemic corruption and decay. In this review, I’ll focus on the EP’s first two tracks, as “Rocking Chair” was previously reviewed upon its release.
The opening track, “Satan’s Grin”, erupts with guitar riffs that howl with a sense of injustice. Every note, every solo, channels the weight of oppression and unrest. Ironside’s raw, gravel-throated vocals embody the suffocating despair of witnessing humanity’s slow collapse. It’s an uncompromising, furious anthem that speaks to the dark undercurrents of our time.
“The Decline” shifts gears as it builds momentum, with a steadily quickening rhythm that mirrors how rapidly society seems to be falling apart. The track delivers a stark warning: without awareness and action, the downward spiral will only accelerate. It’s a scathing critique of societal failure, driven by unchecked greed, deception, and public apathy. More than a song, “The Decline” feels like a rallying cry, drenched in the bitterness and urgency of a world on the brink.
Midnight Whiskey Massacre delivers more than a heavy rock EP; “Satan’s Grin” is a modern protest hymn mourning the erosion of truth, justice, and collective resilience. It doesn’t just ask you to listen, it demands that you pay attention. For fans of politically charged, riff-heavy rock, this EP stands as both a battle cry and a warning siren. Highly recommended for listeners of iconic bands such as Motörhead, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. 8/10
8/10 To Greatness and Glory!
**Please support the underground! It’s vital to the future of our genre**
#WeAreBlessedAltarZine
#TheZineSupportingTheUnderground
