Midnight Tattoo - Raise Your Glass

In the gritty underbelly of Antwerp's punk scene, where the echoes of Oi! anthems reverberate through dimly lit pubs and tattoo parlors, Midnight Tattoo has long stood as a beacon for unapologetic streetpunk fervor. Formed in 2010 by this Belgian trio has built a reputation on raw energy, melodic hooks, and lyrics that celebrate the simple joys of camaraderie, ink, and endless nights fueled by ale. Their latest offering, Raise Your Glass, to be released in late 2025 via Contra Records, marks a triumphant return after a six-year hiatus from full-length albums, distilling the essence of their sound into a potent brew that demands to be shared with mates. I was lucky to listen to it before the releasedate and it's a banger!

Building on the foundation laid by their 2019 debut Trouble Bound—a record brimming with earworms like "Another Night in the Pub" and "Tattooed Again"—Raise Your Glass amplifies the band's signature blend of hard-edged Oi! with sing-along choruses that evoke the spirit of contemporaries such as Evil Conduct and Dropkick Murphys. The album's themes remain steadfastly rooted in working-class escapism: tales of legendary evenings, unbreakable bonds, standing your ground and the ritual of raising a toast amid life's chaos. Tracks like Never Give Up  and Forever channel the no-frills authenticity that define their sound, featuring robust riffs and gang vocals designed for live eruption. The album starts with the track Raise your glass and it kicks off the album in great manner...cheers! For me the standout track is Molly's Pub with the bagpipes intro and a Dropkick Murphys sound but the whole LP is fcking awesome.

Raise Your Glass benefits from Contra Records' seasoned touch, offering a polished yet unpretentious sound that captures the band's live-wire intensity without sacrificing grit. As Midnight Tattoo approaches their 15th year, this release not only reaffirms their place in the European streetpunk landscape but also hints at expanded horizons, potentially fueling tours beyond Belgium, Holland, and France. For aficionados of punk with heart, Raise Your Glass is an essential spin—a reminder that in a world of fleeting trends, some bands endure by keeping it real, one chorus at a time.