Demo 3 - The Loco Studios Sessions 2

NWOBHM Rarities Review #3

As I mentioned in another StormQueen review (Demo 1982), aquired the bands first demo a long time ago, and it has been a long time favourite of mine. I acquired this demo much more recently, and my initial impressions are of a band with about 4 years of growth and refinement to their sound, driven by a talented key writer in guitarist Dave Morse. This one seems like the natural culmination of the bands experience, and is a real showcase of a great NWOBHM act with a refined, mature sound by this point. I want to kick whichever record companies didn’t pick this band up either prior to this album (the 1980 demo was phenomenal for it’s time), or at least after it. It is pretty darn awesome, with a developed sound that draws strong comparison to Judas Priest here. A full-length from these guys, paid for with studio cash would’ve been a great addition to the (admittedly bloated) NWOBHM scene, but alas. Oh well, at least these guys actually produced a speight of demos, rather than just the one – like so many others.

‘Just for a Day’ is easily among the best songs ever written by the band, with a depth of emotion, skillful songwriting, and just utter mind-blowing ass-kickery on vocals, guitar and drive that’s easily alongside (and similar in sound to) Saracen and Judas Priest. A ballad with ferocious emotion, somber attitude driven along by skillful picked guitars, passionately delivered vocals, and pounding drums and bass. ‘While the Fire and the Rose’ is a deep, moving number in itself, this one is an incredible high-point that is deserving of a place alongside any “Best of NWOBHM” compilation. Incredible. ‘The Walls Have Eyes’ continues the progression and development of the bands sound and continues to slay listeners. It has thrashy, nasty riffs (which were toned down a bit in the 1982 demo), one of the faster paces the band has played, a kickass intro, and a clearly matured, talented axeman, playing some brilliant guitar lead over the vocals. Bass sections are superb at the end, reminding one of Iron Maiden. Vocal harmonies are thick and forceful. In fact, while ‘Just for a Day’ is perhaps the better song on the album, every one of these three tracks is brilliant, and quite technical compared with a lot of the stuff being churned out by competing NWOBHM acts. Perhaps one of the best NWOBHM demos ever put out. I urge you to pick it up, and commend StormQueen for its creation.

-DeathRiderDoom