DEMON
“CEMETERY JUNCTION”
Album Review By Rick Tilley
10/10
There is so much I could write about Demon that I’m struggling to know where to start with this review and also how to keep it to a reasonable length so I’m going to just forge ahead and see where everything takes me!
I was so pleased to see ‘Cemetery Junction’ on the review list for two reasons. I’ve been a big fan of Demon since late 1982 when a good friend introduced me to the debut album ‘Night Of The Demon’. Within a week I had purchased that and the superb second album ‘The Unexpected Guest’ and along with Saxon, AC/DC and Whitesnake they became part of my early introduction to Heavy Rock and Metal. For that reason I hold Demon very close to my heart. I was also pleased because it’s been four years since their last album ‘Unbroken’, which if I’m honest, wasn’t my favourite release by the band and I was unsure if they would return! Well, not only have they returned they’ve only gone and released one of the best damn albums of their career. ‘Cemetery Junction’ is an absolute beast and is my favourite Demon release since ‘Breakout’ from 1987. Of course they’ve made some cracking albums in-between but this has grabbed me by the short and curlies, thrown me against a wall and screamed in my ears!
Apart from the ever present and brilliantly unique vocals of Dave Hill there have been many members over the years. They’ve always managed to make every album sound like Demon but there is something about this current line-up that has got it absolutely spot on. Former guitarist Ray Walmsley has returned to the fold but this time on bass and it’s an inspired choice because his driving bass lines form a thunderous partnership with drummer Neil Ogden. This is exactly how a rhythm section should work together and fills me with joy. Current guitarists David Cotterill and Paul Hume have never sounded better and their solo work is some of the best I’ve heard on any Demon release. That is quite a statement from me as I pause to remember original guitarist Mal Spooner (R.I.P). New keyboard player Karl Waye has also proven a revelation. His huge sound has perfectly captured a balance between the Heavy Rock of ‘The Unexpected Guest’ and the pomp and experimentation on arguably Demon’s finest album ‘The Plague’ (1983). All of this together with the fact that Dave’s voice has probably never sounded better and a veritable treasure chest of stunningly catchy songs make ‘Cemetery Junction’ an album I cannot stop playing!
Although Demon are closely associated with the ‘NWOBHM’ movement they aren’t and never have been an out and out Heavy Metal band. What they are is hard hitting Heavy Rock with lyrics that sometimes cover darker themes and, believe me, this album hits hard! Opener ‘Are You Just Like Me (Spirit Of Man)’ sets the standard high and it just keeps on getting better and better. Next track ‘Life In Berlin’ is absolutely brilliant. Dave Hill has always been a fabulous and creative lyricist and here they are hauntingly moving, ‘Turn On The Magic’ does just that and includes a fantastic guitar solo and almost Hawkwind like keys. ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ is another extremely well titled song. This is an absolute mid-paced foot stomper with great riff, middle eight, chorus and solo that gives me goose bumps on every listen. ‘Queen Of Hollywood’ is the longest song here at just over six minutes, it reigns things in slightly and focuses on more excellent lyrics, but is no less fantastic because of that, ‘Thin Disguise’ is a slower, almost ballad like track that reminds me of latter day UFO or Uriah Heep, the title track is next, returning Demon to those darker themes, has a chorus that will go down brilliantly live and wouldn’t seem out of place on ‘The Unexpected Guest’, ‘Drive’ is another foot stomper with the keyboards in the chorus reminding me of ‘Steel Monkey’ by Jethro Tull and some cracking guitar work, ‘Miracle’ is a dark and haunting ballad that builds beautifully with another amazing chorus, ‘Out Of Control’ sees Dave Hill use his voice brilliantly to evoke insanity and final track ‘Someone’s Watching You’ could be the darkest song Demon have ever written with Dave once again excelling in the vocal department! I don’t usually mention every song on an album but with ‘Cemetery Junction’ Demon demand that you listen to absolutely everything and further nuances appear with each subsequent spin. Production, mixing and mastering is faultless giving the band an up to date punch without sacrificing their past and the albums pacing is spot on. It’s quite apparent this has been thought about a lot!
I’ve never quite understood why Demon aren’t much better known and bigger than they are but the music business has never been a predictable one has it? What I do know is that ‘Cemetery Junction’ is arguably Demon’s most well rounded and complete album to date (certainly since they returned with ‘Spaced Out Monkey in 2001) and they should be extremely proud of it. I’ll have no hesitation in naming it as one of my top five albums of the year!
TRACKLIST
Are You Just Like Me (Spirit Of Man)
Life In Berlin
Turn On The Magic
The Best Is Yet To Come
Queen Of Hollywood
Thin Disguise
Cemetery Junction
Drive
Miracle
Out Of Control
Someone’s Watching You
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