DEMON

"Invincible" (Frontiers Music SRL; 2024)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Here's a little Snidermann-like story for you. I didn't know much about Demon, but I found this record store in Moorpark, CA (of all places) and they had tons of used CDs. I found a couple of Demon's previous albums there one week and liked them so much, I went back to that store for the next couple of weekends until I had practically the entire Demon discography. That was a long time ago. Decent record stores are harder to find these days.

Demon's line-up has changed (or shuffled) more times than Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have broken up but throughout its nearly fifty year career, the band has maintained its classic NWOBHM sound and that sound continues on their new release, "Invincible."

"Invincible' is another collection of vintage-sounding heavy metal rockers that brings to mind bands like Axe, Diamond Head and Praying Mantis. The songs are heavy, crunchy rockers with all the classic clichés and sounds. It works best when the band picks up the pace, as on "Beyond the Darkside" and "Breaking the Silence," but the other tracks are no slouches, either, especially on the Dio-like "Hole in the Sky." The album ends with its slowest, quieter track, the poignant "Forever Seventeen."

Fans of the band's previous albums, as well as those who love the classic NWOBHM sound (like me), will find plenty to their liking here on "Invincible."

For more information, check out http://www.demon.band/.

"The Best Of ... Volume One" (Spaced Out Music; 1999)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

This appropriately-named CD contains fifteen of Demon's most popular tunes ranging from 1981 to 1992. It's an eye-opening collection of hard melodic tunes which surprised me - I had heard of the band but never heard the band so I assumed the band was darker and faster - sort of like King Diamond. But I was pleasantly surprised. Demon is more of a cross between Deep Purple and Black Sabbath with songwriting and musicianship equal to that task. "The Best of ... Volume One" is a perfect introduction to the band.

The best tracks on the CD are the opening track, "Night of The Demon," "Don't Break the Circle," "Sign of a Madman," the Pink Floyd-tinged "Touching the Ice," and the gritty "Life on the Wire." The epic "Remembrance Day," clocking in a 9:35, is also impressive.

For more information and/or to purchase the CD, please visit the new Demon website at http://www.the-demon.com. 

DEMON's lineup has changed through the years but, according to the CD, it breaks down a little like this:
1981/1983: Dave Hill; Mal Spooner; Chris Ellis, John Wright, Les Hunt
1984: Dave Hill, Mal Spooner, Steve Watts, John Wright, Gavin Sutherland
1985: Dave Hill, John Wright, John Waterhouse, Keith Andrews
1987: Dave Hill, John Wright, Steve Watts, John Waterhouse, Andy Dale
1989: Dave Hills, Steve Watts, John Waterhouse, Scot Crawford, Nick Bushell, Steven Brookes
1991: Dave Hill, Steve Watts, John Waterhouse, Steven Brookes, Scot Crawford
1992: Dave Hill, John Waterhouse, Steven Brookes, Mike Thomas, Paul "Ross" Rosscrow

For more information, check out http://www.demon.band/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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