Night Demon Live at Reggie’s [REVIEW]
By Justice Petersen
To obsessive heavy metal fans, certain things catch your eye. Things like chunky white sneakers, flying V Gibson guitars and the band Flotsam and Jetsam will scratch your brain and not other people’s, almost like it’s an inside joke or symbol of some cult that only you are a part of. California-based heavy metal group Night Demon is also one of these things.
Consisting of Jarvis Leatherby [bass, vocals], Dusty Squires [drums], and Armand John Anthony [guitar], Night Demon is known as an iconic outfit of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM). Night Demon is heavily inspired by old-school metal bands as well as some of the DIY punk groups that surrounded them in their native stomping grounds of Ventura, California. Playing with the grit of Motörhead combined with the speed of Judas Priest, Night Demon plays the 1970s/1980s influenced heavy metal with the toughness of any street punk band.
The band played to a packed crowd at Reggie’s Rock Club on Thursday, March 30. Along with Haunt, a heavy metal band from Fresno, Night Demon opened up for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band Satan.
NWOBHM is a music movement that occurred during the late 1970s and early 1980s when many English heavy metal groups emerged and took the genre by storm. Such notable bands include Saxon, Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and many others. These bands influenced many up-and-coming metal bands in the States, particularly those hailing from the Bay Area, helping to birth many thrash bands such as Metallica and Megadeth.
During the 2010s, there was a surge of NWOTHM bands, like Night Demon and Haunt, who brought back the musicality, attitudes, and aesthetics of these old-school metal bands. With every performance, including their gig at Reggie’s, Night Demon keeps this metal flavor alive.
At the concert, almost every patron wore a battle jacket decorated with their own individual collection of patches. Even before Haunt took the stage, the venue was flooded with people excited to see each band perform.
Haunt, who has a new record coming out May 5, played several face-melting numbers, including “Frozen in Time”, “Hearts of Fire” and “In Our Dreams”. Just like Night Demon and Satan, they attack with that signature old-school bite.
Even Night Demon’s soundcheck sounded like Black Sabbath. Before they actually began their set, there was a haunting familiarity, like when you know what’s about to happen and you don’t know whether you’re excited or terrified.
Night Demon opened with the title track from their recently released album “Outsider” (2023). Then, they played “Ritual” from their 2013 self-titled EP. Their setlist throughout the night continued to consist of a balance of both newer songs and early tracks.
The band plays with such a recognizable sound, and while it may not be flattering to compare bands to one another, to do so with Night Demon is a compliment. In a 2021 interview with Ruthless Metal, Leatherby talked about how he was flattered when new fans thought that Night Demon was an undiscovered band from the 1980s and not a current group.
They play with the heaviness and gloom of Black Sabbath with the speed of Motörhead. Leatherby’s bass tone recalls Jason Newsted live in Mexico City circa 1993. This makes sense when one sees that Leatherby plays with a pick just like Newsted, as well as other notable metal bassists Lemmy Kilmister and David Ellefson.
As Night Demon played through “Chalice”, another track off their debut EP, a hooded figure with glowing red eyes and a skeleton head came out holding a metal goblet. The skeletal being floated across the stage and hovered over band members’ shoulders as he held the goblet out to screaming fans. This entertaining part of their live show solidifies Night Demon as being a metal group that features everything any great rock band has along with flying V guitars and double bass drums: a creepy monster mascot.
The band finished their set with “Screams in the Night” from their 2015 album “Curse of the Damned”. Just when fans thought they had seen the last of Leatherby for the night, he returned to the stage as Satan was about to begin.
Leatherby came on stage to announce that, unfortunately, Satan vocalist Brian Ross was ill and unable to perform that night. However, the rest of the band played their set anyways, with Satan guitarist Russ Tipins singing most of the songs. Occasionally, Leatherby or Haunt vocalist Trevor William Church would come on stage to sing a song or two.
Satan could have easily decided to cancel their set that night in light of not having their lead vocalist. However, in true metal fashion, the band persevered, but not without the help of some brothers in arms. Because not only are metalheads undeniably talented (and often innovative and iconic pioneers in their genre), but they stick together through tough times.
Night Demon’s new full-length studio album, “Outsider”, is available now.
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Links:
Official: https://www.nightdemon.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightdemonband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightdemonmetal