I have been on a nostalgia trip lately and thank you to Demon's Eye for further fueling my look back at music that I grew up with. This German Deep Purple tribute band has taken their love of all things Purple and created an album that pays homage to their heavy metal gods while giving them an identity all to themselves. With 11 original songs all done in the style of their heroes with a sizable dose of other influences like Rainbow, Dio and even a bit of hair metal like a Whitesnake might bring to the table, Demon's Eye has recreated the aura and feel that you got from cranking up the stereo full blast and letting these rockers permeate the whole neighborhood.
Enlisting one of rock and roll's most talented vocal gunslingers in Doogie White to front the band, they have chosen wisely. He is one guy who has lived it and knows what music of this era needs to grab you. Then combine guitarist Mark Zyk who has obviously been to the Blackmore school of heavy metal learning with Florian Pritsch's heavily Jon Lord influenced keyboard work, the wish to be 15 again and listening to "Smoke On The Water" and "Space Truckin" for the very first time overwhelms. I got goose bumps the first time that these songs emanated from my record player and Demon's Eye brought back that sense of wonder. Even though I now listen with a ton of experience and musical miles behind me, this band captures something that very few can anymore.
From the opening moments when " The Unknown Stranger" greets you like an old rock and roll friend, there is little doubt that these able bodied musicians mean business. Tasty melody, great harmonies and that delightful organ backdrop bring back the days when you flicked your bic at the concert instead of flashing the cell phone. "Sins Of The Father", "Ain't Nothing Better" and "Far Over The Rainbow" all bring back the vision of Deep Purple with just a close of the eye and a little imagination. With "Evil Comes This Way" you get a little bit of Ritchie Blackmore's style of bringing a Middle Eastern feel to the music. They even give you a little bit of Southern Boogie with the bluesy "Midnight In Heaven Or Hell". This is a very diversified slice of the great rock and roll pie. The band manages to glorify an era and a type of music without sounding dated. This disc is a fresh look at a vintage style that is one of the most entertaining disc to come along this year. It is just a whole lot of fun for someone of my age group who can remember the original go around with this kind of sound. I don't know what the younger crowd will think of it but this is by no means geared to them anyway. If you can remember arena rock, then do yourself a favor and grab this disc. You will not be disappointed.
Track listing:
1. The Unknown Stranger
2. Sins Of The Father
3. The Best Of Times
4. Ain't Nothing Better
5. Evil Comes This Way
6. Heaven Again
7. A Foolish Man
8. Midnight In Heaven Or Hell
9. Far Over The Rainbow
10. Brand New Life
11. Le Vent Lament
12. The Best Of Times (Bonus Track extended version)
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