MYSTERY BLUE
Night Demon

MYSTERY BLUE’s “Night Demon” is a tribute to the golden era of speed and thrash metal, channeling the sounds of legendary acts like Judas Priest, Megadeth, and other icons of the 1980s. From its vintage guitar tones to its raucous solos, the album immerses listeners in the raw energy and rebellion of old-school metal. While technical aspects of the band’s musicianship shine through, the album is left to contend with its overall mix and songwriting, leaving it somewhat confined to a nostalgic homage rather than a standout work of its own.

The instrumental work is undoubtedly NIGHT DEMON’s strongest suit. The guitar solos are among the album’s most compelling moments, with shredding and melodic runs that evoke the classics, especially in tracks like “Skulls From Hell” and “End Of The World.” The riffs are aggressive and fast, driving the music with a youthful vigour. Tracks like “Burning Souls” display a perfect balance of melody and aggression, calling to mind the duality of Megadeth’s style. The drumming is solid throughout, providing a dynamic backbone to the music. Percussion is especially prominent in the driving beats of “Pandemic Metal Virus” and the tension-building moments in “Wild Fire.” The bass also stands out, which is a pleasant surprise in a genre where it often gets buried beneath the guitars and drums. The clarity with which the bass is mixed in “Human Again” adds richness to the overall sound.

While the music delivers a pure thrash metal experience, the vocals offer an interpretation that might feel either charming or challenging, depending on the listener’s perspective. They channel a style that calls back to the high-pitched, screeching vocals of metal pioneers like Rob Halford, but with a slightly different execution. Perhaps intentionally, the vocals lack the sharp intensity or precision of their influences, creating a rougher, more raw sound that fits with the overall vintage production. While this approach may not appeal to everyone, it seems to serve the album’s retro aesthetic, fitting into the mix of nostalgia and homage that “Night Demon” evokes. This vocal style might not be as commanding as the classic icons of the genre, but it’s clear that the intention is to create something that feels more grounded in the DIY energy of 1980s metal.

The album’s production itself, while fitting for the style, does leave something to be desired. The mix feels thin at times, particularly in the lower frequencies. The lack of a strong low-end on songs like “Skulls From Hell” and “Rebel At Heart” makes the heavier moments fall flat, robbing them of some of their potential punch. The vocal sharpness, while likely a deliberate choice, contributes to a sound that’s harsher and more grating than it needs to be. This issue with the mix gives the album an almost dated feel, like it was intentionally crafted to sound like something straight out of the 1980s, but without the clarity and balance that modern production would offer.

Where “Night Demon” stands out, though, is in its spirit and energy. Songs like “Where Metal Rules” break up the predictable song structures with a piano-driven intro that transitions into a heavy anthem, keeping things engaging with unexpected tempo shifts. It’s a rare moment of experimentation that offers something beyond the album’s typical formula. Meanwhile, tracks like “Wild Fire” experiment with tension-building breakdowns, adding a sense of unpredictability to the song that gives it an edge. However, these moments are somewhat fleeting, and much of the album falls back into standard, familiar patterns that lack the same level of creativity.

Lyrically, “Night Demon” engages in themes of rebellion, personal struggle, and the undeniable power of metal music. While this is a staple of the genre, some of the lyrics feel too generic, offering little more than a surface-level connection with the listener. The ballad “Forever Hand In Hand” stands out in this regard, as a heartfelt dedication to the vocalist’s mother. The emotional impact of the song has a highly memorable quality to it.

In the end, “Night Demon” is a mixed bag. While it successfully captures the essence of classic speed and thrash metal through its strong instrumentation, it often feels restrained by its reliance on retro aesthetics and a production style that holds it back from standing out. The band’s musicianship and cohesion is clear as long-standing in Europe’s metal scene, and it shows on this album with standout guitar solos and a consistent rhythm section, though the lack of vocal dynamism and the album’s flat mix are a slight miss from reaching its full potential. For fans of vintage metal who appreciate an album that takes them back to the 1980s, “Night Demon” will likely hit the right notes. However, for those looking for something fresh or more powerful, it might struggle to leave a lasting impression.

Angela Ambrose