Album review: NIGHT DEMON – Darkness Remains

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 21.04.17]

I thought about writing this review without referencing either of the terms ‘retro metal’ or ‘NWOBHM’. However, after giving this an honest spin through a couple of times, that proved impossible. So closely do Night Demon follow the template of those classic early 80’s metal heroes, most notably Iron Maiden, that there really is no option but to review this affair as a tribute.

In that sense, the band has played a blinder. Speeding riffs, bass-heavy chugging, intricate, melodic layered guitar lines, tempo switches and carbon-copy double bass drum tracking. Not to mention the retro (there it is) production. One could be forgiven for thinking it is 1982 all over again.

The lyrical content echoes Maiden’s early work, too: encounters with strangers, the dark, hallowed ground… there’s even a track called ‘Maiden Hell’ which manages to create a whole lyric entirely out of Maiden song titles. A pretty impressive feat that shows the band have a sense of humour. At least I think it’s meant as a joke.

There’s not much wrong with the playing. This tanned Californian threesome (even though every fibre of your instinct says working class five-piece) play well. Armand John Anthony cooks up a technical (if dubbed and layered up) masterclass on guitar; Dusty Squires simply is Nicko McBrain on drums; and Jarvis Leatherby fires up the rumbling, running bass. Leatherby doubles up on vocals, and this is a bit of a let down. He seems to be stuck in an uninspired, laboured, mid-range gurgle.

So much for the style. What about the substance? In truth, it’s not great.

Much of the material is competent or safe at best, plundering a formula – that they did not invent – for all its worth. That’s where the ideas end. Cloning a sound is where Night Demon’s creativity runs out. It hasn’t extended to anything like depth or quality of material, no matter how professionally it is played.

There are one or two moments that rise above average, like ‘Black Widow’, and ‘Life On the Run’ but otherwise this is a mediocre offering. Including Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and the Sabs’ ‘Turn Up The Night’ as bonus material merely highlights the paucity of their own good songs.

It’s hard to know who Night Demon are appealing to here. I get the Iron Maiden homage. We all owe them a huge debt, no question. But for me, without better material, this lot will struggle to ditch the novelty badge. ***

Review by Dave Atkinson

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)