Demon celebrate 45 years in business. Forming back in 1979 and lining up as one of many bands seeking to make their mark in the (then) emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.
They made quite a fist of it back then too with cracking albums such as Night of the Demon and The Unexpected Guest.
Remaining active over the years albums have appeared steadily – however it has been eight years since the excellent Cemetery Junction in 2016 so it is certainly welcome that in their 45th anniversary year in 2024 they have released a superb new album entitled Invincible.
Dave Hill remains at the helm as always and with a fine set of fellow band members Invincible has the lads on top form. The NWOBHM roots remain however the sound is fresh, heavy, measured, melodic and with the keyboard swirls giving things some extra ooomph and an added dimension to the sound.
Hill’s vocals are rich and powerful without being strained. The guitars chug with the intelligent and varied riffs and also compliment each other when soloing. Crisp drumming and chunky bass lines lay the foundation and the keyboard work is reminiscent of say a 1970s Uriah Heep album – it did make me think of Ken Hensley.
A brief slightly spooky intro gives way to In My Blood – an immediate attention grabber. A thumping rocker with a biting hook and soaring guitar work. Face the Master thumps along having the slightly creepy edge which Demon have always had right from the NWOBHM days.
Here’s Face the Master
Ghosts from the Past and Beyond the Darkside are a brace of classic hard rockers racing along with the spitting guitars.
Hole in the Sky has a progressive tinge to it with plenty of variety in with the measured power. The title track races along too with an uncompromising, dramatic feel and Breaking the Silence goes a bit space rock a-la Hawkwind.
Forever Seventeen brings things to a close in a well measured semi-ballad style with lyrics suggesting that perhaps Dave Hill is allowing himself some retrospective reflection on younger days.
Demon how here on Invincible that they haven’t lost a step over the years and can go toe-to-toe with the best of them.
With Demon and other what we might call “legacy” bands such as Uriah Heep and Saxon banging out classy late career albums such as Chaos and Colour (Heep) and Hell, Fire and Damnation (Saxon) it is more evidence that the old ‘uns know how to deliver.
Invincible is top quality proper hard/heavy rock from a band who remain at the top of their game over four decades in. This is how it should be done.
>> DEMON INVINCIBLE ON AMAZON <<
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.