From the Dustbin Returned: Demon: Night of the Demon (1981) ...

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which is typically shortened to NWOBHM, was one of the high points in the history of heavy metal. In response to the repetitive nature of the stadium rock movement and the growing menace of punk, British heavy metal acts developed a more technically aggressive and adrenaline-fueled version of hard rock, thus establishing a unique sound that was at once cinematic and streetwise.

While the standout stars of this movement included Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Saxon, a whole slew of other acts attempted to “make it” during this early ‘80s revival. For the most part, most of these bands either became secondary lights or forgotten collector’s items. Demon, a group of blokes from the West Midlands, fall into the latter category. Although Demon’s original run lasted an impressive thirteen years (1979-1992), the band never made it into the elite category of top-tier NWOBHM bands.

Partially this was due to their inconsistency. Although their first two albums (1981’s “Night of the Demon” and 1982’s “The Unexpected Guest”) successfully produced the usual heavy metal tropes of black magic, horror, and soaring vocals, Demon decided to change course, and on their third album, entitled “The Plague,” Demon showed their increasing interest in progressive rock and more melodic sounds. Demon pursued this line until 1992’s “Blow-out.” After that, the band ceased to be and stayed dormant until reuniting in 2001. Demon are still at it today, and in 2012 they released the full-length album “Unbroken” to some critical acclaim.

Still, despite their numerous incarnations and line-up shifts, “Night of the Demon,” the band’s debut, remains their most recognizable achievement. Despite the cover’s artwork, the album’s title, and the band’s name, “Night of the Demon” does not present any trace of proto-black metal. Similarly, only a few songs on the record even touch upon the occult. For the most part, “Night of the Demon” is standard ‘70s hard rock with an early ‘80s sensibility.

The record opens with the chilling intro “Full Moon.” Underneath the pained groans and moody synthesizer, the unsettling chant of “Rise!” can be heard throughout “Full Moon.” It’s hard to not hear the influence of Italian horror on “Full Moon” - a song which follows in the path of Lucio Fulci and Dario Argento with its mixture of rudimentary synths and droning vocals. After a minute and a half, “Full Moon” transitions into the titular track “Night of the Demon.”

Frankly, “Night of the Demon,” with its minimally distorted riff and its fist-pumping aesthetic, is at first a comedown from the instrumental opening. One would expect muscular death metal after such an introduction, but instead “Night of the Demon” (both the song and the album) presents singalong rock anthems that are chock full of memorable moments. Rather than the soundtrack to a devilish Sabbath, “Night of the Demon” is more appropriate for a beer-fueled pub shindig.


While “Night of the Demon” highlights the dazzling vocals of Dave Hill, the second track, entitled “Into the Nightmare,” is more about the punk-esque group singing of the entire band. Compared to the other nine songs on the record, “Into the Nightmare” is by far and away the catchiest. If it weren’t for Demon’s darker aesthetic, then “Into the Nightmare” would’ve have been a surefire pop hit in 1981. 

Other pop gems on “Night of the Demon” include the bluesy “Big Love” and “One Helluva Night,” which would go on to become one of the band’s signature tracks. While “Big Love” shows the influence of AC/DC, “One Helluva Night” bares all the hallmarks of Judas Priest, from the driving beat to the dual guitar attack of Mal Spooner and Les Hunt. Rounding out the other pop hooks on “Night of the Demon” is the pseduo-ballad “Fool to Play the Hardway.” Again, don’t be fooled by the packaging: “Night of the Demon” is neither scary nor entirely atmospheric. Instead, “Night of the Demon” is more hard rock than heavy metal, and its overall thrust looks more towards the past (the 1970s) than the future (the thrash metal ‘80s).

 Looking at the big picture, it’s no surprise that “Night of the Demon” only had a limited impact upon its release. It is has neither the excitement of “Ace of Spades” or the instant classic quality of “Killers.” More or less, “Night of Demon” is a steady hard rock record that does just enough to appeal to metalheads. While many critics and armchair rock historians have called this album’s cover and title a hindrance that distracts from the music, the truth is that without them, “Night of the Demon” would be a generic album that wouldn’t get much more than a cursory glance. As it stands, “Night of the Demon” is the archetypal NWOBHM collector piece - it’s rarely talked about, contains an air of mystery, and rocks out in the old fashioned way.

Words: Benjamin Welton