• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Ventura, California's Night Demon channel the NWOBHM, like countrymen ZUUL or Sweden's Enforcer, on their debut EP Night Demon. They play loose and fast with an emphasis on projecting the energy of the songs rather than trying to smooth the rough surfaces or round the sharp corners. Speaking of the songs, they are simple and straightforward Heavy Metal without much in the way of effects, other than echo and fuzz. There's some excellent lead work on "Night Demon," easily the best song on the EP, as well as some galloping, Iron Maiden-style bass work. The lyrics are dark and obliquely satanic, sort of like the Heavy Metal version of a Hammer Horror movie. The rest of the tracks are variations on that theme, some faster, some slower, and all of the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-lead-chorus style.

Night Demon is good when it is on, though it doesn't break any new ground, either in the NWOBHM revival that's currently underway, or as far as the original movement is concerned. If you are really into the Golden Age or the countless bands of today paying tribute, you'll probably find some value in Night Demon, just don't expect any revelations.