1990年結成のUKメロディックの大ベテラン中のベテランMIDWAY STILLが2012年6月にリリースされた前作"ALWAYS END"から4年の歳月を開けてニューアルバムをリリースでっす！前作リリース後2度目の日本ツアーでも圧倒的なライブパフォーマンスを見せつけてくれましたが、今作でもライブバンドということを凄まじく感じさせるパワフルでラウドなノイジーギターが炸裂してます。もちろんシューゲイズ要素もバッチリ！UKインディーロック、シューゲイズ、メロディックパンクと異なるジャンルのシーンで受け入れられるそのサウンドは、繊細で哀愁と美しさを同居させたメロディー、グイグイと引っ張るハードなサウンド、流れるようなコード進行、疾走感とヘビーさでグイグイ突き進むリズムと純粋に出音として華がある！しかも3ピースながらこのレコーディングの音圧をライブでも再現出来てしまう凄まじい奴ら。メンバーはポール（過去にSNUFFでもギタリストをやっていた。けど殆どの人が気づいていないw）、デックラン、ラッセルと、再始動後の不動のメンバー変わらずなので一体感は鉄板。でもこの音ってさ彼らが1stの頃からやりたかった音なんだよ。それが今の録音技術上がってやれた結果がこれなわけで。今作はリリース目前で突如亡くなってしまったデックランの息子MILOへ捧げる。(O)



While in Japan, I certainly bought a lot of records by Japanese bands, though I did pick up a few things here and there by bands from elsewhere. One of those was the latest record by Midway Still. I am so glad I grabbed this as it is easily the best album they've released since reforming a few years ago and you could make the argument that it holds up against any of their hits from the 90's as well.

The album starts off with the terse and tough guitar blast of "Wicked World." It's moments like this that remind you of how uniquely positioned the bans was when they were around originally. They're not quite as melodic or moody as Senseless Things, they're not quite as catchy as Snuff and they're not as blistering punk rock as Leatherface. However, Midway Still kind of straddles a midway point (ahem) between all of these great bands. They take pieces from each and create their own sound that really is the exact kind of punk rock I want to listen to.

Just take a listen to the one-two punch of "Hey Summer" and "What's The Price." Talk about back to back hits, these two songs are among the best Midway Still has ever released with hooks and catchy choruses that just beg to be shouted along to. Go Team No Hope is another fantastic record from Midway Still and it's a great starting point if you've never heard them before. Then go buy Dial Square.（Tim PopKid）