Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


NIGHT DEMON Darkness Remains

By Alex Yarborough, Orlando Contributor
Monday, April 17, 2017 @ 2:20 PM


- advertisement -
NIGHT DEMON
Darkness Remains

2017 Century Media Records




“Piercing you with eyes of blackness, the look of handsome death … the earth grows cold as you take your last breath …”

Every once in a while, a band comes along that seems to catch lightning in a bottle. Lately, that band is Ventura, California-based power trio NIGHT DEMON. After building a huge buzz with their excellent debut album Curse Of The Damned (2015) and touring relentlessly in support of it, NIGHT DEMON was awarded Album of The Year by many reviewers, (including the listeners of WJCU in Cleveland, Ohio). NIGHT DEMON’s blue-collar work ethic is significant. Their sound is unique yet familiar, combining the heart of NWOBHM with the melody and grit of early RIOT and UFO.

NIGHT DEMON is now set to unleash their sophomore album, Darkness Remains on the world. This time, singer/bassist Jarvis Leatherby and drummer Dusty Squires are joined by new guitarist Armand John Anthony, who replaced former guitarist Brent Woodward without missing a beat.

You know you’re in for a treat from the opening guitar strains of “Welcome To The Night”. This is a perfect way to open the album, and a really good song. A video can be viewed on KNAC.COM HERE. “Hallowed Ground” follows, with a righteous riff to lead you through a fabulously melodic bridge and chorus. NIGHT DEMON’s inspiration comes mainly from the NWOBHM, which of course includes IRON MAIDEN. In fact, there’s a song on the album called “Maiden Hell” that uses IRON MAIDEN song titles as lyrics. I’ve seen this done with a few different bands before, and it’s done pretty well here (and even references IRON MAIDEN’s most recent album, The Book Of Souls).

“Stranger In The Room” starts out slowly and builds to a raucous closer, reminding me a little of THIN LIZZY with the power chords flowing from Anthony’s guitar. “Life On The Run” gets your head banging to this tale of life as a fugitive from the law. Some sweet melodic power chords and double bass drumming highlight the track.

“Dawn Rider” is another instant classic, which offers a tale of trying to outwit death. “Black Widow” is another of my favorite tracks on the album, (but you will discover that your favorite song will change daily while listening to it). “On Your Own” features another killer riff and some of the coolest backing vocals from Leatherby and the band. “Flight Of The Manticore” is an instrumental that references the legendary Persian creature. The whole band gets to show their chops on this track. The title track (and longest song) “Darkness Remains” concludes the album. This track is unlike any other song on the album, with a melancholy atmosphere and vocal effect.

I find that NIGHT DEMON is most effective when they utilize melodies, like they do in “Hallowed Ground” and “Dawn Rider”, but their straight ahead rockers also have enormous appeal. Jarvis Leatherby is the MVP here, as he has improved as a vocalist for sure, but don’t overlook his fantastic bass work. What you get with Darkness Remains are ten concise, classic heavy metal songs about darkness and demons– the way Heavy Metal should be! This album sounds amazing when you crank it up to maximum volume. My advice is to buy this album and the debut album, crank them both up as loud as they will go, and play them back-to-back. As they say: all killer, no filler. Darkness Remains will be released on April 21st.

5.0 Out Of 5.0

Pick up your copy of Darkness Remains in the KNAC.COM More Store right HERE.


Back to Top

 

 

 Recent Reviews
RHAPSODY OF FIRE Challenge The Wind
THE AMITY AFFLICTION, CURRENTS, DYING WISH, MUGSHOT In Boston, MA With Photos!
BLUE OYSTER CULT Ghost Stories
BLACK VEIL BRIDES In Houston, TX With Photos!
GATECREEPER Dark Superstition
AMON AMARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBITUARY, FROZEN SOUL In Portland, OR With Photos!
ULI JON ROTH In Ottawa, Canada
RAVEN, VICIOUS RUMORS, LUTHARO In Ottawa, Canada
BLIND GUARDIAN, NIGHT DEMON In Worcester, MA With Photos!
FIREWIND, EDGE OF PARADISE, IMMORTAL GUARDIAN In Houston, TX With Photos!
KERRY KING From Hell I Rise
DARKTHRONE It Beckons Us All
KAMELOT, HAMMERFALL, AD INFINITUM In Fort Worth, TX With Photos!
ASKING ALEXANDRIA, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE, NERV In Salt Lake City, UT
ARTILLERY, VAPOR, POTENTIAL THREAT, INFRARED In Ottawa, Canada
BABYLON A.D. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
ILLUSORY The Ivory Tower Reissue
GHOSTKID Hollywood Suicide
DAATH The Deceivers
ACCEPT Humanoid
BRUCE DICKINSON In Santa Ana, CA With Photos!
GREAT WHITE, SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT In Houston, TX With Photos!
STATIC-X, SEVENDUST, LINES OF LOYALTY In Salt Lake City, UT With Photos!
JUDAS PRIEST, SABATON In Youngstown, OH With Photos!
ROCK & BREWS Ridgefield, WA Grand Opening With Photos!
WIND ROSE, XANDRIA, LYCANTHRO In Ottawa, Canada
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA By Candlelight In Myrtle Beach, SC With Photos!
DEICIDE Banished By Sin
2024 MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE Recap With Photos!



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2024 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News