(((O))) : Night Demon – Night Demon

I have often thought that the power of 80’s heavy metal was a sound and feel that is hard to duplicate today but would be great to see in some type of revival in metal. But with the advancement in technology I think exhuming that sound is virtually impossible.  I don’t think you can have that gritty feel that those late 70’s to early 80’s metal albums had to them. Whether it was the NWOBHM sounds of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden to the Hollywood glam albums of early Mötley Crüe and Armored Saint there was grit and a dirty sound to those albums. Yes, it all had to do with how albums where produced in those days as they didn’t have the technology of today and digital was still in its infancy. But the sound was so perfect for heavy metal.

The “retro” metal bands of today have done a fine job of recreating the melodies, riffs, and style of the heavy metal of the past but most of them depend on the new technology to finish the sound. There isn’t that really dirty production that almost makes it sound like the band is playing through a tube (in a good way). But Night Demon is here to change all of that for you with their self-titled debut EP.  Night Demon have decided to take “old-school” to heart and deliver an album that not only harkens back to the hay days of NWOBHM but “emulates” the brilliance that was the very first Iron Maiden and Judas Priest albums.

The EP only has four songs on it and the very first is not only the name of the band but, in that old-school heavy metal way, tells us what to expect from Night Demon as a band. It is very similar to what the great Manowar has been doing since there beginning, and that is fine as long as you are going to do it with conviction. As for Night Demon there is no doubting their conviction to their sound. The problem with the songs on this EP is that they are not original by any stretch of the imagination and no matter how much conviction they put into the songs they are still going to sound like songs that Iron Maiden intentionally left off of the Killers album. The remainder of the songs 'The Chalice', 'Ancient Evil' and 'The Ritual' are all well representative of the talent  of the band but, for as talented as they are, Night Demon sound more like an Iron Maiden tribute band than something new that is harnessing the sounds of the past and giving it an up-to-date kick in the ass.

All of that being said one thing is very important about this album and that is for any flaws or imitation that is on it, it is still a fun little EP. Like my friend and fellow Echoes and Dust contributor John Sturm said in his review of the band Neuronspoiler “It reminds me that metal can be (whisper it) FUN!” So if you can get past the Iron Maiden/Judas Priest  “emulation” then you can enjoy this album for what it is, a fun little ride back to the beauty and sound of 80’s metal. But if Night Demon plans on doing more in the metal world they are going to need to find a sound they can call their own and become a little bit original while keeping that dirty and gritty sound of the past.  Not an easy task but, it will be fun to see what they can do.

Until later, Peace!