ALBUM REVIEW: Outsider – Night Demon
With galloping riffs, anthemic choruses and searing guitar solos, traditional heavy metal, NWOBHM-inspired metal, call it what you will, always delivers when executed to a high standard. Many bands come forward with their inspirations firmly on their sleeves, obvious nods to forerunners and can often be good if unoriginal and just as often fade away after a particularly uninspired album that regurgitates ideas that have been done better elsewhere. However, as mentioned, when done well a band can really make their mark. NIGHT DEMON have been plying their trade over the last decade and with several albums and a compilation under their studded belts have set forth with an ambitious concept album for their new release. Combining all the main stylistic elements one would expect from the genre, yet still adding in a unique flavour, Outsider certainly sees the three-piece in fine form.
As an album, Outsider represents a more cohesive and perhaps more well-planned release than their previous works. The approach of developing a conceptual theme between tracks is not new to NIGHT DEMON. Occasional flashes of storytelling links can be found on previous albums such as debut release Curse Of The Damned. However, the new album delivers a fully fleshed out and realised theme from start to finish. As a result, the band have stepped up their game both lyrically and musically. They’ve never come across as slouches when it comes to delivery and previous works show that they are more than capable of producing stand out riffs and hooks, but there is a striking difference that can now be found and it’s a unified sound that grabs the attention.
From the opening Prelude that sets the scene and tone on an almost cinematic scale, NIGHT DEMON launch into the full-blown earworm of a lead single. The title track Outsider tears off the mark, with a full band wall of noise producing a catchy hook led track. The vocals soar above the mix with well-constructed harmonies lending weight to the chorus and elevating the already powerful punch provided by the instrumentation. The pace is rapid and the journey begins.
Over the following tracks the band embark on the compelling conceptual path. The lyrics are interspersed with tales of the supernatural and horror themes which have been scattered throughout various other tracks in NIGHT DEMON’s back catalogue. These are mixed with very real human emotions of loss and regret that when delivered here and mixed with all the stylistic elements of traditional metal makes for a highly engaging and often times enthralling album.
Tracks such as Obsidian, Rebirth and Escape From Beyond serve up wall-to-wall head banging riffs and air guitar inducing lead lines that are commonplace of this genre style yet are delivered with a bright, punchy mix marking them out as joyous highlights. Beyond The Grave and A Wake offer a slight change of place and shift the dynamics expertly with a more reserved approach while still packing a sonic wallop. The latter of the two delivers the box ticking lighter in the air ballad element of the album.
Overall Outsider is an excellent slice of metal. The tracks have been well constructed and it’s clear NIGHT DEMON have got a solid handle on their craft and have developed an educated approach to their musical style, knowing exactly when and how to run riot and let the riffs do the talking, yet keeping the whole thing unified and coherent. The mix supplies a weighty presence and attack to the sound making Outsider not only a career highlight thus far for the band but also a contender for an album highlight of 2023.
Rating: 8/10
Outsider is set for release on March 17th via Century Media Records.
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