Artist: Demonax
Title: Play That Metal Mean
Genre: Speed Metal
Release Date: 10th March 2023
Label: Heaven and Hell Records
Review Flash
Some people in our beloved Metal scene dig and some dig deep, Heaven and Hell Records are the latter. If you love to learn about bands that only released one demo in the 80s only to vanish soon after: this is the label for you. Fun fact first: the guitars on this remastered 1985 demo of DEMONAX are played by Frank Aresti of FATES WARNING and ARCH/MATHEOS. Like most bands that came to be in High School, DEMONAX too started off as a cover band. The four-piece started with covers from IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH and DIO but soon after discovered this new subgenre called Thrash Metal which fuelled their evolution into a somewhat tougher sounding outfit. From the sound of this remastered demo alone I can say that DEMONAX should have continued to make music because they sounded like an uncut hybrid of METALLICA and JUDAS PRIEST (Keith Bycholski’s vocals really do remind me of the lower register of our adored Metal God Rob Halford). That said, this is as rough and unfiltered as it gets (remastered or not) but it does the trick and makes you want more and that is what counts right? This remaster marks the first time the music of DEMONAX is put on CD and it comes with bonus tracks including the ‘Play It Loud’ demo and four live tracks. This release comes with a 12-page booklet, complete lyrics and photos, liner notes by Frank Aresti a new artwork by Steve Conn and is limited to 500 copies worldwide.
Conclusion: If you dig old-school Metal and are a collector of rad stuff by chance you should buy this as long as it is available.
Rating: 8 / 10
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