UK Based Prog Metal quintet MIDNIGHT REALM announce their newest album here. "Engineering The Apocalypse" is a concept record takes listeners on a journey into the psyche of "The Architect", a troubled individual whose struggle to decipher premonitions from reality leads him to believe he is a prophet of global catastrophe. The album has seven songs, and "Malevolence Broadcast" is first, and it's a short mood-setter. Piano notes that start off sweet quickly become ominous with the addition of percussion, keyboards, and harsh vocals.

"I the Architect" gets to the center of the issue, with layers of guitars, harsh vocals, and angry, pounding drums. Despite the heavy structure of the song, there are also some great melodies, particularly in the chorus. "The Rebuild" make a heavy and aggressive statement out of the gates, with some melodic leads. From there, the hasty sound speaks of "watch my empire grow with might...this world will burn. The past and future I will write...this world is mine." The addition of clean female vocals adds a welcome dimension to the song.

"Kings Will Crawl" begins with glorious melodies but settles into a more ominous sound, rich with keys. The band doesn't stay away from stalwart elements in the music but are also not afraid to interject melody when it is necessary. "Beckoned to Bleed" hears the story take a turn for war...and blood. The aggressive sound is augmented with layers of guitar, keyboards, and other elements. "The Oncoming Storm" is the turning point in the tale. Gentle guitars open the song, with thunderheads rumbling in the background. The clean vocals bring a different element to this thick and rich sound, and the more aggressive elements are tempered perfectly with melody.

"Polemos" closes the album. The title refers to a Greek Demon who "embodies the concept of war." It's an epic adventure and is also pretty ambitious. The band poured their heart and soul into this closing song to wrap up the tale, and it's glorious. At times, it is gentle and melodic, where other times, it is bulky and contentious.  Falling somewhere in the vast realm where Melodic Death Metal meets Progressive Metal, this album was fantastic. The band are talented at both musicianship and songwriting, and they put a lot of careful consideration into the album and the tale. Who doesn't love a great concept album?