REVIEW: NIGHT DEMON – “Darkness Remains”

Grab your leather and spikes – it’s time to throw the horns and bang your head to ‘Darkness Remains’ by Night Demon. This Ventura, California-based band continues where they started with the complete embrace of the classic metal sound made famous by Angel Witch, Tokyo Blade, and Iron Maiden. This isn’t some cheesy power metal band shrieking in the night. This is a titanic trio who have created an album that captures their undeniable passion for the power and glory of heavy metal music.

Night Demon is Jarvis Leatherby (vocals/bass), Armand John Anthony (guitar), and Dusty Squires (drums). Two years ago, they released their debut ‘Curse of the Damned’ on Century Media. This album captured the hearts and minds of metal fanatics across the global. The question then became: can Night Demon repeat this success, or are they a one-hit wonder?

My answer after hearing the new album is a throat-searing scream of “Hell Yes!” The genre affectionately known as ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’ is lovingly given new life through the outstanding music of Night Demon.  On ‘Darkness Remains’, the band plays with a vigorous conviction in the undying spirit of metal music.

From the rampaging opener “Welcome to the Night” to the lamentations of the closing title track “Darkness Remains”, this ten-song metal masterpiece is saturated with head-banging goodness. The riffs are thick and infectious throughout the album. The Maiden tribute song “Maiden Hell” is fun and unpretentious, while “On Your Own” is riddled with hooks that bite deep. The standout track on the album however, is “Hallowed Ground”. The rolling kick drums and punchy bass track make this song a heavy metal classic.

‘Darkness Remains’ by Night Demon is unadulterated fist-pumping heavy metal at its best. This album is intoxicating; I can’t keep it off my playlist. Within ten songs of metal mastery, you are treated to classic metal played with fire in the heart and iron in the veins.