You may or may not know that Nightshade evolved out of Q5 whose album, Steel The Light is regarded as a bit of a classic. They recorded a follow up in ´86 with When The Mirror Cracked but the dreaded personal differences reared its ugly head and the band split, with vocalist Jonathan Scott and Rick Pierce guitar moving on to form Nightshade. The first fruit of their labours was this overlooked gem; Dead Of Night.

There is a harder groove and melody this time which gives it the edge over the two Q5 records. This album has everything that a good hard rockin’ record needs from a good old anthem in Somebody’s Watchin You to pound fests with Surrender and Violent Times. Somebody’s Watchin’ You is too good a track not to be my favourite – chest thumpin’ rock n’ roll indeed.

Unfortunately, this record came out in ´91 and it was doomed before it had a chance which is a massive shame because it’s a bit of a classic.

9/10 from The Grooveman.