NIGHT DEMON Bio (updated July 3rd, 2020) 

Night Demon are excited to unveil their new single, Vysteria, for worldwide release via Century Media Records on July 3, 2020. 

It’s been three long years since Ventura, California’s Night Demon unleashed their second studio album, Darkness Remains. In the interim, the trio brought their old-school metal attack to stages around the world with a fierce and indomitable work ethic. Now, Night Demon are answering the prayers of their rabid fanbase by unleashing brand-new music. 

The Vysteria single marks Night Demon’s fourth 7” vinyl release of 2020. The song title is a fictitious word conjured by the band’s own darkened fertile imagination. It is defined as “exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement incited by the media, especially among a group of people during a pandemic.” Lyrically, the song is a clear-eyed, unflinching examination of what life has become during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. “Vysteria” is not a political statement for these emotionally charged times; however, it does single out for critical scrutiny the mass media’s role in igniting, fueling and exacerbating the virus-related fears that have gripped so many from all different walks of life, socioeconomic statuses, and cultural backgrounds. The band penned this song in late March 2020, and ensuing events have only served to reinforce and validate their observations. Musically, “Vysteria” is as savage, hard-charging and relentlessly uncompromising as anything in Night Demon’s catalog. It has to be, really. The song channels all of our collective anger and frustration with the present state of affairs into a mighty roar, a cathartic primal scream from the rooftops. 

As a special treat, the 7” vinyl version of the song features an exclusive mix by legendary producer Randy Burns, whose credits include Megadeth Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying?, as well as thrashterpieces by Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Dark Angel, Kreator and Death, among others. The Randy Burns vinyl mix is completely different than that featured on the digital / video version of “Vysteria,” which was mixed by Kurt Ballou, guitarist of seminal hardcore punk pioneers Converge. The vinyl also includes a highly prized B-side, in the form of a live rendition of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years.” Although “Wasted Years” has sporadically been featured as an electrifying encore to Night Demon’s live performances, this version holds particular significance for die-hard fans. You see, this recording is the lone previously unreleased track from the band’s historic set at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio on December 2, 2017, which became the acclaimed triple-live opus Live Darkness. “Wasted Years” was Night Demon’s final encore on that magical winter’s night, and the Vysteria 7” vinyl is the only place where it can be re-lived in all of its unvarnished glory. 

Night Demon erupted onto the underground heavy metal scene with a self-titled four-song EP in 2012. Showcasing a sound forged in a deep-seated passion for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal melded to distinctly American muscle and swagger, and embracing a rigorous touring schedule, Night Demon quickly gained momentum in the USA and Europe. In January 2015, the band released their first full-length album, Curse of the Damned, which refined the band’s trademark sound and garnered widespread acclaim by fans and critics alike. To promote the record, Night Demon hit the killing road for the better part of two years, crisscrossing the United States multiple times, touring the European market relentlessly, and even veering off the beaten path with extensive dates in Mexico, South America and Latin America. 

The Night Demon legend continued to grow with the release of their second full-length album, Darkness Remains, in April 2017. Darkness Remains saw the band delivering all of the expected NWOBHM-inspired thrills and chills, but also honing their songwriting chops, developing more of an individual sound, sharpening their attack, and even taking a few chances along the way. The album was lauded by leading journalists, publications and webzines around the world, hauling in top honors in numerous end-of-year polls and lists. True to form, Night Demon again embarked on a grueling touring regimen, including headlining the Darkness over Europe tour and spending five weeks in Europe as direct support for German metal masters Accept. To celebrate their accomplishments thus far and document their ferocious live rituals, Night Demon released a comprehensive, career-spanning live album, Live Darkness, in August 2018. Recorded before a packed house of longtime friends and supporters in their adopted second home of Cleveland, Ohio, Live Darkness captured the band’s energy and intensity on that magical night, yielding definitive versions of the Night Demon catalog. More intensive touring followed, including a headlining appearance at the Hell Over Hammaburg Festival in Hamburg, Germany in early 2019, with special guest Uli Jon Roth joining the band for a spinetingling encore of the Scorpions classics “In Trance” and “Top of the Bill.” 

Night Demon, consisting of Jarvis Leatherby (vocals/bass), Armand John Anthony (guitar) and Dusty Squires (drums), now have their sights set firmly on the future. Although the coronavirus crisis has temporarily grounded their tour plans, the band are plotting their triumphant return to the live arena as soon as global health and safety restrictions permit. When that magnificent day comes, we shall all destroy the fear inside, realize it’s a war in disguise, and scream “Vysteria” at the top of our lungs.