The steady ascent of bombastic blues rockers The Midnight Ghost Train looks set to continue into the New Year. Come late February/early March, the Topeka, Kansas, three-piece will issue their third album, Cold was the Ground, in 2015 as their debut on Napalm Records. It follows 2012’s hog-wild Buffalo (review here), and seems to have at least some commonality of artwork with that album, a lone figure standing against a single-color backdrop of rural America, complete with overgrown field. Only difference is that where Buffalo had a topless woman in sepia that seemed to convey a sentimentality for a time that never was, Cold was the Ground brings a black and white scowl of a man (fully dressed to a near-Baptist degree) standing in front of a house in squalor. If that’s some promise of how the two records might compare to each other sound-wise, the ground may be cold indeed when the new one arrives.

Already veterans of Roadburn, the Desertfests, Freak Valley (where the above photo was taken) and many others on extensive US and European tours over the last few years, The Midnight Ghost Train were announced this week as taking part in the 2015 Hellfest in Clisson, France, next June. This week, however, they’re kicking around the Midwest, presumably just because it hurts them to sit still for too long. Dates are included with the release info and tracklisting for the new record below:

HERE IT IS. The Cover, Tracklist and Release Dates of our new album “Cold Was The Ground”

Release Dates:
2.28.2015 – GSA / Europe / AUS
3.2.2015 – UK / NO / FR / DK / IT
3.04.2015 – SE / ESP
3.10.2015 – USA / CAN

Tracklist:
1. Along The Chasm
2. Gladstone
3. BC Trucker
4. Arvonia
5. One Last Shelter
6. The Canfield
7. Straight To The North
8. No. 227
9. The Little Sparrow
10. Twin Souls
11. Mantis

The Midnight Ghost Train live:
11.19.14 The Rockery, Detroit, MI
11.20.14 The Avenue Cafe, Lansing, MI
11.21.14 Crunchy Frog, Green Bay, WI
11.22.14 Eronel, Dubuque, IA
06.19.15 Hellfest, Clisson, France

https://www.facebook.com/themidnightghosttrain/
http://themidnightghosttrain.bandcamp.com/
http://www.themidnightghosttrain.com/
http://www.napalmrecords.com/

The Midnight Ghost Train, Buffalo (2012)

Heartfelt congratulations to The Midnight Ghost Train on signing with Napalm Records. The simple fact is there isn’t a damn thing the nigh-on-nomadic Topeka, Kansas, trio has got that they haven’t earned, whether it’s playing Roadburn and Desertfest and Freak Valley and others or stomping their way across the US alongside Truckfighters or whoever might think they’re up for keeping pace. Guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss and drummer Brandon Burghart — joined now by bassist Mike Boyne — have become one of American heavy rock’s most bombastic live acts the old fashioned way, honing their craft night after night on a seemingly endless string of tours.

As such, when news like the fact that they’ve been picked up to issue their recently-recorded new album, Cold was the Ground, through a high-profile imprint like Napalm, it gets a hearty “fuck yeah” from me. It’s excellent to see hard work being rewarded.

True to form, the announcement comes bundled with a new string of tour dates for next month. Dig it:

ATTENTION: THE BIG BIG NEWS IS IN.

We are unbelievably proud to announce that The Midnight Ghost Train has just now officially signed with one of the BIGGEST heavy music labels in the world… NAPALM RECORDS. Napalm will be releasing our new album “Cold Was The Ground” on vinyl, CD and digital.

Thank you to all the fans that been sticking with us over the years, and has helped to make our band grow. Now it’s time to do some major damage in the ROCK world.

SOME MORE EXCITING NEWS: Here is the schedule of our two week USA tour. Its a short run we know, but its gonna be a damn good one. Got some great cities and shows for this tour. Gonna be a blast. Check out the poster mark your calendars and be sure to spread the word.

09/04 Secret Show Topeka, KS
09/05 The Bay Warrensburg, MO
09/06 5th Quarter Indianapolis, IN
09/07 Blind Bob’s Dayton, OH
09/08 The Bug Jar Rochester, NY
09/11 31st St. Pub Pittsburgh, PA
09/12 Bar Matchless Brooklyn, NY
09/13 Rosie & The Rockers Washington D.C.
09/14 The Milestone Charlotte, NC
09/17 The Handlebar Pensacola, FL
09/18 The Station Madison, AL
09/19 Ol’ Tavern Jackson, MS
09/20 The Wild Salmon Lafayette, LA

We’re coming.

https://www.facebook.com/themidnightghosttrain/
http://www.napalmrecords.com/

The Midnight Ghost Train, Live at London Desertfest 2014