Ventura, California’s Heavy Metal heroes Night Demon are currently electrifying audiences around the world as they tour relentlessly in support of their 2023 magnum opus, Outsider. Along the way, the band have heard loud and clear from fans worldwide demanding physical copies of albums from Night Demon’s illustrious back catalog, including the legendary debut album Curse of the Damned and the incendiary follow-up, Darkness Remains. Unfortunately, both albums have been out of print (at least, in certain formats) for quite some time, leaving collectors’ desires unsatiated and unfulfilled. Night Demon decided they could no longer ignore these insistent, growing cries. On October 4, 2024, SPV/Steamhammer will proudly bring these new and improved Deluxe & Expanded Editions of Curse of the Damned and Darkness Remains to European shores to the certain delight of vinyl and CD aficionados looking to round out their Night Demon collections.
Originally released in January 2015, Curse of the Damned refined and expounded on Night Demon’s signature sound as debuted on their self-titled EP a few years earlier. It also inspired fanatical devotion amongst the heavy metal faithful, garnering widespread critical acclaim and being voted the #1 album of 2015 by listeners of WCJU’s Metal on Metal radio show in Cleveland, Ohio. To promote the record, Night Demon hit the killing road for the better part of two years, crisscrossing both sides of the Atlantic Ocean on multiple treks, as well as Mexico, Latin America and South America. With each successive tour, Night Demon’s reputation as a must-see live band grew exponentially, as did their fanbase. Curse of the Damned features many tracks that remain staples of the band’s live set to this day, including “Screams in the Night,” “The Howling Man,” and “Heavy Metal Heat,” as well as beloved deeper cuts like “Mastermind,” “Satan” and “Save Me Now.”
The 2024 Deluxe & Expanded Edition of Curse of the Damned showcases the entire original album, freshly remastered by Night Demon guitarist Armand John Anthony. It also includes a pair of bonus tracks compiled from various prior editions, in the form of a cover of Riot’s “Road Racin’” and a re-recording of Night Demon’s classic “The Chalice” entitled simply “The Chalice ’15.” This special reissue of Curse of the Damned is available on blood-red vinyl, as well as CD housed in a jewel case with an O card and fold-out poster.
Initially seeing the light of day in April 2017, Darkness Remains found Night Demon forcefully silencing any speculation of a sophomore slump or a one-album wonder. Darkness Remains delivered all the expected NWOBHM-inspired thrills and chills for the Night Demon faithful. It also represented a bold step forward, as the band honed their songwriting chops, developed more of an individual sound, sharpened their attack, and took some chances along the way. Heralded by the compelling lead single and video track “Welcome to the Night,” Darkness Remains also contains audience favorites and live set mainstays such as “Dawn Rider,” “Black Widow,” “Hallowed Ground,” and the haunting title track. The album took Night Demon to the next level both creatively and commercially, and represented a watershed moment in the trio’s storied career.
The 2024 Deluxe & Expanded Edition of Darkness Remains presents the original album in its entirety, buttressed by a new remastering job courtesy of Night Demon six-stringer Armand John Anthony. In terms of extras, this version brings together a pair of songs lifted as bonus material for various territories on previous editions of the album, including a raucous cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and a mighty run through Black Sabbath’s “Turn Up the Night.” The Deluxe Edition of Darkness Remains is available on marbled red/yellow vinyl, as well as a CD packaged in a jewel case with an O card and poster.
Tracklistings:
“Curse Of The Damned – Deluxe & Expanded”
1. Screams In The Night
2. Curse Of The Damned
3. Satan
4. Full Speed Ahead
5. The Howling Man
6. Heavy Metal Heat
7. Livin’ Dangerous
8. Mastermind
9. Run For Your Life
10. Killer
11. Save Me Now
12. Road Racin’ (Bonus Track)
13. The Chalice ’15 (Bonus Track)
“Darkness Remains – Deluxe & Expanded”
1. Welcome To The Night
2. Hallowed Ground
3. Maiden Hell
4. Stranger In The Room
5. Life On The Run
6. Dawn Rider
7. Black Widow
8. On Your Own
9. Flight Of The Manticore
10. Darkness Remains
11. Turn Up The Night (Bonus Track)
12. We Will Rock You (Bonus Track)
Both re-releases will be released on October 04th, 2024 in Europe through SPV/Steamhammer as CD jewel case with O-card, LP version with coloured vinyl, download and stream.
Pre-Order Link “Curse Of The Damned – Deluxe & Expanded”: https://NightDemon.lnk.to/CurseDeluxe
Pre-Order Link “Darkness Remains – Deluxe & Expanded”:
https://NightDemon.lnk.to/DarknessDeluxe
