ALBUM REVIEW: Demon Bitch – Master Of The Games

Detroit Heavy Metal traditionalists Demon Bitch are back with their second album of cult classic worship. Out via Gates Of Hell Records on November 29th.

Beginning things with jaunty synths, the almost medieval atmosphere exists before the record really starts. The raunchy attack of melodic guitars and powerful drums fires on all cylinders from the word go with blistering leads and soaring vocals cutting right through the rhythmic battery triumphantly. The glory of pure metallic destruction will grasp you immediately as the haunting atmosphere collides with total balls-to-the-wall fury. With a superb mix and equally exquisite musicianship, the tightness of this band isn’t overly polished but simply enforced by a high level of skill from everybody involved. The exciting rhythmic gallops and face-melting string work is phenomenal. Taking a lot of neo-classical inspirations into the foreground of the lead work, Yngwie fans will certainly be impressed. That said, Demon Bitch has dynamics that a lot of shredder-worship bands do not. Their sense of ambience and conjuring a real storyline is just as impressive as the amount of notes they fire out in a satisfactory concoction.

One of the things I really found pulling me further into the album is the unconventional pacing, especially in the vocal department. Their slightly off-kilter feeling had this authenticity when coupled with the marvellous vocal abilities that really got the blood flowing. Of course the band focus on those epic Heavy Metal bands of yesteryear and do a fantastic job of infusing their influences into their sound. That said, Demon Bitch have their own personality that shines through and makes this feel more interesting than some run-of-the-mill traditional Heavy Metal worship. Some really eerie moods seep into this record which contrast the more glorious and upbeat feelings with a sinister edge but both coexisting to grandiose effect. Their progressive leanings do not overshadow the totally classic approach but do give their songs some truly engaging and unexpected twists that keep you at the table. As we venture further alongside Demon Bitch on their quest, I feel myself more and more enamoured by the record.

Sometimes a band just storms into the musical world with something so undeniably their own even if it is influenced by many of the same things as others. Of course their is parallels to great bands of the 80s but somehow Demon Bitch simply do not sound like another band. This is an ideal middle ground when playing traditional Heavy Metal. There is so much relentless energy throughout this album and with a feeling of mystique that enshrouds everything from start to end. Buckets of melody soak a stacked array of sublime riffs and majestic drumming. Every arrangement feels so meticulous and the theatrically delivered vocals are simply perfect for the record. It is rare to hear a band perform so well and even more so for one to have such great songs backing it up. While I am often more inclined to listen to bands with a sloppier approach, Demon Bitch keeps it true and genuinely Heavy Metal enough to find their more progressive and technical leanings an asset rather than a bore. Utterly wonderful to hear such abilities used this way in the modern day.

A blistering opus of epic, frantic and magnificent Heavy Metal that blends elite guitar mastery with some unforgettable vocals and unbreakable rhythms. This album is tight, but authentic. It shines as a unique example of a lost sound where shredders had their own personality on guitar and used it to forge a fantastic element within a strong band with actual songs. Everything here feels like it was executed extremely well and I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome. Estranged and magical were the feeling conjured and Demon Bitch triumph once again in giving us an album nobody else can.