The new 25-year anniversary record by “DEMONS” with guests from Mario Escovedo (The Dragons), Ken Mochikoshi-Horne (The Dragons/The Bronx), Vanja Lo Renberg (The Vanjas), Odd Ahlgren (The Robots, A-Bombs, Matching Numbers), The Hip Priests, The Boatsmen and more.

For a quarter of a century, the Swedish rockers “DEMONS” have been rolling with the punches in the underground. Described as Sweden’s dirty little secret” it’s almost criminal they aren’t playing big rooms all over the globe. They helped pave the way for Swedish rock music in the USA and have released albums, singles and compilation tracks on many labels in most territories.

It really began in the USA where the band toured relentlessly during their early period, sharing the same US label with fellow Swedes The Hives and The Hellacopters. “DEMONS” was also invited by the latter to perform on their farewell tour in Scandinavia (The Hellacopters also opened up their album Head Off with a cover of a “DEMONS song).

With roots dating back to the late 80’s in Akalla, a suburb slightly north of Stockholm three members of the future “DEMONS” started mixing Detroit style rock, 60s psychedelic punk with 70s punk rock and hardcore energy in the very early 90s. The motto was to “combine the energy of punk rock with the groove of The Stooges and MC5 and with the twin guitar assault of the New York Dolls”.

It’s a long, long story that involves everything you might expect from a band that has walked a crooked path, navigating through an unforgiving music business and dedicating their lives to play rock and roll regardless. This leads us to the tail end of 2022 and right here right now. Rock and Roll is littered with hard luck stories from The Boys record being shelved because Elvis died, and Hanoi Rocks breaking up when Razzle left us under such tragic circumstances these are the ones who got away but bands like ‘Demons’ are the survivors who have emerged from the wreckage, they can soldiering on with a pocket full of stories and a C90 full of anthems and some. From the spoken word intro of ‘Riot Salvation’ you know you are in for one hell of a ride. Powered by post-pandemic energy and some Riff-a-Rama this is a fuckin’ beast to clean the pallet of 2022 and ready us for what’s to come. What a belter of an idea this was to be fair and playing it through is the pay off.

‘Blackballed’ is like one of those old wives’ tales if you say it three times you will meet old nick down at those crossroads and sure enough, everything that’s good and great out of Scandinavia is evoked and rocks the fuck out like a ball of fury belched outta hell. you have sing-a-long anthems like this that has added Hip Priests from Shit island fuelling the fury in a Rollicking take. ‘Six Pack Of Champagne’ sing up at the back. This record is fresh and having a pair of Dragons pouring fuel on the flames is fantastic lifted form the most recent release ‘Kiss Off’ is how this wheel rolls. reconvening a bunch of old tunes works and looking at them with fresh ears is a revelation and just shows that this shit is timeless and the guest slots are exactly the shot in the arm they needed. Adding a new song is right and wedging it in the middle of the album sounds great.

Seeing it as something of a blood transfusion using all the players from some unbelievably good bands to donate their DNA is wonderful. There’s a triumphant swagger in songs like ‘Tragedy’ like they know this is working and the payoff is down the line when fans old and new will hear what they’ve done and the compliments will start to (rock and) Roll in. The saxophone is giving me the chills, what a tune and the arrangement is excellent.

Matt described it as something akin to a Peel session from back in the day and he’s right – I often loved some of those old Peel sessions more than the album versions bands did sometimes because the BBC had better equipment and know how to get the best out of the music which is what might well have happened here. what is it they say about 20/20 vision and hindsight? Who knows? What I know is this is a winner all the way from A – Z its all killer and no filler and if you glance over this without opening the hood for a look then more fool you because this is most excellent and a no-brainer. Buy IT! ‘Electrocute’ will bludgeon you into submission whereas the pop sensibilities of ‘Come A Day’ will have you dancing along to their borrowed rap lyrics from grandmaster flash. ‘Demons’ have it all Now get on down to that crossroads and sell your soul – Rock and Roll might just save your life.

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Author: Dom Daley