This is a compilation of re-recordings of the 1992 Demo with four additional demos that were recorded back then. DAMIEN BLACK was a very important figure in the 1990's in early US Power Metal history. It was not well known, but was highly regarded. One thing for sure is that technology is much better nowadays than it was back then. The recording and mastering of records have evolved exponentially since then and the use of modern technology has helped out immensely the whole sound of this very album. According to an interview Mike Caruso did for Decibel Magazine, he wanted to re-record these songs because he wanted to add layers to them and adds some vocal harmonies, something he couldn't do on the 1992 demo. He wanted to replace some guitar solos as well and he said he finally had the time and energy to make it all right. Every musician would love to go back in time to make an album better and that's what he wanted to do on this compilation.

1992 was the era of Grunge and the US Power Metal (Prog Metal as well) scene was overpowered but that genre. Not a lot of people were listening to other types of Metal than METALLICA back then. I think the whole Metal scene took a backseat to the Grunge for a number of years and it hurt alot of smaller bands like DAMIEN BLACK. Fortunately, Mike Caruso was able to revisit his 1992 Demos and gives us something worthwhile. According to alot of stuff I read about these last few days on the internet, there was alot of comparisons to QUEENSRYCHE back in the day. At first listen, I can definitely hear it! You really don't hear a voice like this nowadays. It's such a powerful voice, that it's almost magical. You can hear the emotion and that incredible range! I would describe it as a mix of John Arch and Geoff Tate. A singer like Tom Englund from EVERGREY has that quality of voice, powerful but emotional. In each word, you can almost hear the singer bare his soul. I always loved that quality in a Metal singer.

Some songs are very catchy, you have that great hook. A great hook can make a good song great and a great song even better. You have some Prog Metal elements mixed to it especially on ''Dead of Winter''.The drumming is perhaps the best example of some of those great elements. There is some pretty technical drumming on this opus that reminded me of guys like Mike Mangini from DREAM THEATER or a guy like Gavin Harrison from PORCUPINE TREE. Some songs are pretty weak though. I felt some songs were forced and power ballads are definitely not my thing. I can appreciate a good melody but I felt these songs didn't fit with the overall theme of the album. There is definitely something for everyone on this album even though you have these mid-tempo ballads unfortunately. I thought it was reminiscent to a demo version of ''Queen of the Night'' by ANGRA I heard a very long time ago. It's a mid-tempo song with a good hook but that did not measure well enough (well in my eyes) to the rest of their material. It's not bad at all but I still it felt misplaced on the album.

Unfortunately we don't have any singers like this anymore. Mike Caruso has an incredible talent that was drowned in the sea of Grunge and more commercial Metal music. That is a crying shame. PS: Those demos at the end add a lot of history to the band and it was fun to listen to the originals of the four songs. You can see that there wasn't a great audio quality but you can still feel the power of their songs. It's awesome to see what technology can bring to the table nowadays and we get to hear those songs on another level!