Ventura, California's traditional heavy metal darlings Night Demon return with their first full-length since the 2022 COVID19 collection Year of the Demon, titled Outsider. Technically their third full-length platter of all new material, Outsider is a concept album (their first!) and tells a quick, barely over 30-minute sci-fi/horror tinged story housed within their exciting musical style, which, as always, borrows from both the NWOBHM and traditional US heavy metal elements. More so than their previous albums though, Outsider isn't all 'pedal to the metal' bangers, as the band mix in some mid-paced mashers and even some moments of doom with their penchant for testosterone fueled speed/trad-metal. As always, guitarist Armand John Anthony unleashes a torrent of six-string delights, whether it be raging riff-o-rama on "Outsider" and "Obsidian", or bone crunching doom on the atmospheric crusher "Beyond the Grave". He's also a splendid lead player too, which you can hear on the Thin Lizzy inspired "Rebirth" and the near-thrash of "Escape From Beyond". Let's not forget the strong vocals of bassist Jarvis Leatherby and potent drumming from Dusty Squires, but of whom combine with Anthony to make up one of heavy metal's most powerful power trios. "A Wake" is sadly kind of a throwaway track, and with an album as short as this, it sticks out like a sore thumb, but the lengthy closer "The Wrath" again delivers more mid paced thunder, a slow build of a song that kicks into speed metal/thrash territory right around the mid-way point.
Outsider into 35-minute territory, which is still quite short, but it's an action packed ride that overall, might not quite top the splendor of Night Demon's first two amazing records, but it's still plenty cool and earns an easy 4 out of 5 stars.
Track Listing
1.
Prelude 02:18
2.
Outsider 03:50
3.
Obsidian 03:57
4.
Beyond The Grave 06:21
5.
Rebirth 03:35
6.
Escape From Beyond 03:47
7.
A Wake 03:27
8.
The Wrath 07:26
9. The Last Day (bonus track)
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