Night of the Demon

“…and the nightmare begins as the devil rides out…”

This is possibly what Lucifer’s Friend would’ve sounded like if their debut came out eleven years later and in that time soaked up sponge loads of relatively boring mid-late ‘70s rock. At this time, a darker ideology was starting to stir in our pubescent metal scene, and Demon was one of those anticlimactic bands I often speak of that were visually/topically emblematic of it, yet so anemic in its composure that it was almost laughable. Dark rock had already grown roots at the cusp of the previous decade with Horse, Writing on the Wall, Josefus, Necromandus, of course Sabbath, and the aforementioned Lucifer’s Friend, and the sounds from these bands were not only more dynamic, but heavier. How could someone take Demon’s debut seriously? Of course, I’m speaking of fans that were old enough to have been in at least junior high in the late '70s. At eleven years old, I didn’t even know this band existed, but after hearing “Don’t Break the Circle” (which is actually a swell song) and “Beyond the Gates” at fourteen, I was certain they weren’t blistering ears everywhere.

Hard rock pretty much outweighs the metal in this outing, hardly tingling a NWOBHM vibe in me even if they are considered part of the movement. The chorus is the strength in most of these tracks, and while lacking heaviness and rebellion, there’s a simple catchiness to the sound that still doesn’t make up for it, but at least makes things fairly listenable.

Despite “Full Moon”, its corny chant n’ burp black mass intro, the even-keeled title cut is hooked well enough to warrant radio play and probably has somewhere. There are three songs on here that can get the ‘ol heart rate pumping a few beats faster than normal: “Ride the Wind”, “One Helluva Night”, and “Decisions”. That’s not saying they’re accomplished songs, but can probably liven up a dusty warehouse just by simply playing. “Into the Nightmare” would also be on that list, but the song’s mildly memorable chorus gives it special mention. Of the more moderate choices, “Father of Time” is the best with its easy main structure animated by a meaningful chorus. “Liar”, “Big Love” and its stunted AC/DC-with-a-ho-hum-vocalist veneer, and most uneventful “Fool To Play the Hard Way” drag the lp down nicely. But hey, at least the production is top shelf.

While there are some songs on here that don’t make me wilt like a frostbitten sunflower, I’ll be happy if I don’t have to hear this one for another couple of years. Next year’s opus, The Unexpected Guest, did more to turn heads, so give them extra points for improvement.