A couple of years ago, while I was in a second-hand music store looking for Heavy Metal CDs, I came across an album by a band called DEMON. The album was called "Blowout" and I would've gotten it in a heartbeat just based on the wicked name and the eccentric album art alone. But I saw that it was priced used at sixty dollars for a used copy! So when I came across the newly re-released "Taking The World By Storm" by DEMON, I had to see whether or not DEMON made music worthy of such an exorbitant price.

I must point out that this album is a "remix" of what originally came out in 1988. "Taking The World By Storm" saw a remastered reissue in the early 2000's but this edition is a "remix", consisting of more contemporary performances on the songs. What beckoned DEMON to remix this album twenty-seven years later? As far as I know, I am totally clueless as to their reasons. I'm sure they were good ones.

What doesn't surprise me is that "Taking The World By Storm" is a catchy, ballsy slice of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era from Metal's history that has nearly reached a point of mythic romanticism. As obscure to me as DEMON is, they were among good company in the British Heavy Metal ranks along with JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and ANGEL WITCH. Their style has evolved into more rock-and-roll or Power Metal sound, by more contemporary standards, but "Taking the World By Storm" hearkens back to a time when this kind of music righteously dominated the globe.

There is no song on here that doesn't have a fist-bumping or head-banging interlude in it. Even the more somber and melancholy tracks on here like "Remembrance Day (A Song For Peace)" which becomes reprised on the album's closer "Time Has Come" have a lot of memorable hooks in them. Of course songs like "Remembrance Day" shouldn't over-shadow the high-octane rock anthems on "Taking the World By Storm" like "The Light Brigade" and "Commercial Dynamite" that have wailing guitar solos and hypnotic drums. These songs still pack a punch to them after nearly three decades later. And the dramatic vocals on "What Do You Think About Hell" and "Blue Skies In Red Square" by Dave Hill are super important to DEMON's charm and ferocity.

Seeing as I don't subject myself to a whole lot of Power Metal or old school Heavy Metal, this album was an exceptional treat to hear. I still think sixty dollars for a used CD is ridiculous but at least now I have witnessed the true power of DEMON! If you can find "Taking The World By Storm" for a reasonable price, I suggest you pick it up. You may end up regretting it if you don't.