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NIGHT DEMON
Live Darkness
2018 Century Media

In the near future, when bands like IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST finally hang it up and retire (heaven forbid), who will be there to take up the heavy metal mantle? Who will be among the biggest bands in metal? I hope one of them will be Ventura, California’s NIGHT DEMON. Their NWOBHM-influenced duo of albums has garnered them tons of new fans in the past few years. Non-stop touring and promotion of their excellent second album, Darkness Remains (2017) has fine-tuned the band’s stagecraft and made this new live album a document for the ages. Jarvis Leatherby (bass, lead vocals), Armand John Anthony (guitar) and Dusty Squires (drums) are on fire on Live Darkness.

So, after only two studio albums (and before that, a 4-song EP) why release a triple live album? Why the hell not, when you’re as red hot as this band is? Live Darkness was recorded before a packed house at the Beachland Ballroom, in the band’s second home of Cleveland, Ohio, on December 2, 2017. Cleveland fans took notice of NIGHT DEMON early, and the band rewarded their devotion by recording this album there. I’ve ventured to see a show at this veritable Cleveland landmark in the past, and I have several friends who were at this show. I can corroborate the awesome vibe the night Live Darkness was recorded.

Clocking in at over 90 minutes and featuring 23 songs (nearly the band’s entire catalog), this live album is a whopper, and should satisfy any NIGHT DEMON fan looking for a live fix of the band’s material. NIGHT DEMON waste no time in laying waste, opening with “Welcome To The Night” and barely letting up for a breath until after the eighth song, “Maiden Hell”. “The Howling Man” is a fan favorite, and receives an authentic treatment here, complete with thunder and lightning intro. One of my favorite NIGHT DEMON songs is “Black Widow”, and the band does an incredible live version. All four songs from the band’s EP are played; of course, “The Chalice” is a set staple, and “Night Demon” needs to be played without question. Eight of the 11 songs from Curse Of The Damned (2015) are played, and all 10 songs from Darkness Remains are performed. If you’re doing your math, that leaves one song, which is a cover. The band is joined onstage by Athenar from Cleveland’s own MIDNIGHT, for a performance of their song “Evil Like A Knife”. Crowd pleasers like “Ancient Evil” and “Hallowed Ground” are also performed – with the necessary fury required. The Cleveland audience is fairly engaged, offering a spirited applause after each song.

The album cover features a marvelous shot of Jarvis and Armand leaping from Dusty’s drum riser while performing. Live Darkness is available now in a variety of formats: triple red vinyl with double CD, triple black vinyl with etching, triple red smoke vinyl, double CD, and of course digitally. Hopefully video will be next!

5.0 Out Of 5.0