by Justin Gaines
– Senior Columnist/News Editor —
The traditional heavy metal revival in the United States has been in full swing for several years now, but every once in a while a band will emerge from the underground and take the scene by storm. We’ve been lucky enough to see two such bands break out this year. One of those bands was Utah-based Visigoth, and the other is California’s Night Demon. The band is newly signed to the Century Media label, and has unveiled their first full-length album, titled Curse of the Damned.
While the cover artwork for Curse of the Damned suggests those old Mausoleum releases, Night Demon has more in common with the classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) sound. Think Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang and early Iron Maiden. The music is heavy enough to get heads banging, but it has a great melodic aspect as well. Jarvis Leatherby’s steady vocals are perfect for this kind of music, and there are so many catchy choruses to sing along to. The heavy, chugging guitar riffs are also a key part of the overall sound, and further lock in that NWOBHM feel.
There are ten tracks on Curse of the Damned, and not one of them counts as filler. This is a very strong album all-around, though it does have its standouts. Album opener “Screams in the Night” is a perfect representation of the Night Demon sound, and towards the end “Mastermind” and the very Maiden-sounding “Run For Your Life” make sure the blood is still pumping. You could pick any song at random to sample though and find yourself totally sold on the album.
Curse of the Damned is an outstanding debut from a band that should have a very bright future. It’s a must-have for fans of both old school heavy metal as well as newer traditional metal bands like Visigoth, Air Raid, Blade Killer and Borrowed Time. And they’ve got the talent and on-stage chemistry (seriously, see this band live if you have the opportunity) to be more than just a flash in the pan (a la White Wizzard). Night Demon is the real deal.
Genre: Heavy Metal, Traditional Metal
Lineup:
Jarvis Leatherby (v) (b)
Brent Woodward (g)
Dusty Squires (b)
Track Listing:
1. Screams in the Night
2. Curse of the Damned
3. Satan
4. Full Speed Ahead
5. The Howling Man
6. Heavy Metal Heat
7. Livin’ Dangerously
8. Mastermind
9. Run For Your Life
10. Killer
11. Save Me Now
Label: Century Media
Website: www.nightdemon.net
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.75/10
