Demon were one of the most unique bands to come out of the NWOBHM. The band came storming out of the underground with devilish imagery and an over the top stage show akin to Venom, but at their heaviest sounded like a metallized version of Foreigner or Magnum’s evil cousin. After a pair of classic albums in Night of the Demon (1981) and The Unexpected Guest (1982), the band explored the realms of AOR and progressive rock in the mid ’80s, before returning to their heavy metal/hard rock roots in the late ’80s and sticking to it ever since.
Although only frontman Dave Hill remains from those glory days, Demon is not a band to be toyed with on their aptly titled 14th album, Invincible. With an acute vision in mind and a group of top shelf musicians behind him, Hill is determined to silence the nonbelievers after an 8 year musical absence from the cult metal outfit. Sure, time has marched onward and Hill himself, similar to his peers Ozzy Osbourne, Ian Gillan, and Bob Catley, is facing the realities of being a septuagenarian from a vocal perspective. That said, these select limitations have not stopped Demon’s punch or power.
Being signed to Frontiers, there are a handful of cuts on here that I would qualify as “Frontiers fare”, or par the course for a veteran hard and heavy act still going at it today. You’ve got your obligatory ballad (“Forever Seventeen”), anthemic arena rocker (“Rise Up”), and on the heavier side of the spectrum, Sabbathian tinged dirges (“Ghost from the Past”, “Hole in the Sky”). Considering the darker nature of Demon’s music, they handle this latter style rather well, so much so that one can’t help but wonder what a full fledged power-doom affair from these old schoolers.
Nevertheless, “Frontiers fare” aside, Demon are at their absolute strongest when they sound like Demon. Melody centric cuts like “Break the Spell”, “Cradle to the Grave”, and the title track are bombastic displays of heavy AOR boasting the colossal hooks and unique charm of their mid ’80s wilderness days. Meanwhile, “Face the Master”, “Beyond the Darkside”, and “Breaking the Silence” channel the occult energy of their early NWOBHM days from both a musical and lyrical perspective. What Demon has historically lacked in all out heaviness, they make up for in grandiose atmosphere and peerless musicianship, both of which are on full display throughout.
I wouldn’t go so far to brand Invincible a continuation of Demon’s most creatively fruitful period in the ’80s, but rather a homage to what was. Much like how Judas Priest’s Firepower (2018) felt like an amalgamation of all the elements that made classic Priest so great, Invincible feels the same for Demon. There’s a little bit of metal, little bit of AOR, little bit of prog, and a whole lot of black magic along the way. Sounds a bit like another occult natured act that’s been all the rage as of late, doesn’t it? Come on Tobias! If you’re not getting Repugnant back together anytime soon, do these old demons a favor and bring ’em over stateside as your special guests. *sighs* A ghoul can dream.
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Magnum, Rainbow, Black Sabbath
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