Spiritual Beggars - "Demons"

[Inside Charmer]

I have locked the other similarly titled topic because there's no real use of it anymore.
"Demons" has arrived at my place, and since the day before yesterday I have listened to it like 20 times til now.
I will very soon post my humble thoughts...not that you care, but anyway!!!!
In a nuthell: The album is a mega killer, already a classic of the genre and will destroy your stereos.
Skal,

[VirusXI]

i hate you.

[Inside Charmer]

Salt in your wounds?
:D

[Starbreaker]

Where you hear many cherries, hold a small basket.

:P

I want it.

[VirusXI]

Salt in your wounds?
:D

http://jameshudnall.com/archives/images/finger.jpg

[Inside Charmer]

Why bother when fucking mp3s or darn downloading always does its miracle?
:)

[VirusXI]

fucking mp3s or darn downloading
explain the difference between these =P

[Dimitra]

Is it close to On Fire or even better??? Give us a clue!

[Buddy Lackey]

a LOT better
Anyway Vasilis asked a well known metal store in the center of Athens and told him that they will bring the Japanese version next Monday, for the price of 23 euros. Not bad eh?

[Inside Charmer]

"Demons" can't be compared to any of the previous masterpieces. It combines all of them and at the same time defies all of them.

[Dimitra]

a LOT better
Anyway Vasilis asked a well known metal store in the center of Athens and told him that they will bring the Japanese version next Monday, for the price of 23 euros. Not bad eh?

Name the metal store :!:

[Buddy Lackey]

The store owner was true to his word about the date, but not about the price, which is 26 euros. Got my copy :D

[Lizzy]

Since 2.30 today, i have the japanese two cd version in my hands. I started from the live cd which realy kills. Especially the live version of look back is teriffic.
To whom it may concern (is there anyone...?) I bought it from the store named "Rockstar", which is at Themistokleous str. Its price is 26 euros.
The cover isn't as ugly as it looks!
Dear charmers, why don't we arrange a meeting, in order to listen the new cd together?

[Buddy Lackey]

Its already on plans ;)

[Lizzy]

INNER STRENGTH: one of the best intros i have ever heard

[Lizzy]

What's your opinion dear Buddy since then?

[Buddy Lackey]

Well i have listened to "Demons" dozens of times before it was released, i think its a Spiritual Beggars classic (with all that this means). I'll wait for all others to listen to it lots of times, until we can share our opinions. I can tell for sure that its a lot better than "On Fire"!

[Lizzy]

the record comes straight from the middle 70's.
JB is in grate shape! He sounds like Coverdale at his best!

[Inside Charmer]

After all and great portions of flattery and hassles to Michael Amott (…), Spiritual Beggars’ new opus “Demons” has reached me. The parcel came in on March,31st containing the super deluxe japanese edition of the record plus the bonus live cd capturing the Beggars live on stage during their “On Fire” tour in Tokyo, April 18th 2003.
I still don’t know if I am in the position to express an opinion on the album. It’s been less than 24 hours that “Demons” finally hit my stereo, although since then I have indulged myself on endless hours of close listenings in all possible ways…thru my stereo, on the pc, on my portable discman, in the car. And yes, “Demons” is already ruling my life and moods, taking under siege what I do and what I think. Not many records can do that…on the other hand I am one of them few people around the globe so madly and thoroughly possessed by everything that is Spiritual Beggars…if not the one and only…anyway.
The first time I laid ears on the new album, I wasn’t really amazed. Now I know that this was due to the fact that there’s no song like “Angel of Betrayal” or “Killing Time”. “Demons” doesn’t dispose of a real stick-like-glue instant-karma singalong single tune. “Killing Time” was a rapid fire taking hold of your senses even from the first minute one heard it. You’ll vainly ask for something like that on “Demons”. So, this could hint at a more esoteric, moody or technical in terms of composition direction of the new stuff…and it’s true: “Demons” comprises mostly, if not at all, of downers. Songs filled with a sense of grief, melancholy or even anger. Musically this is in depth supported by Amott’s guitar work. If in the glorious, ravening mad sixties, English rockers wrote “Clapton is God” on London’s walls, modern heavy rock connoisseurs should make it “Amott is God”.
Amott is GOD.
Ι wanted to say that what I take in as a sad, brooding, kinda gloomy undertone in “Demons” is mostly due to this man’s guitar ideas and amazing inspirations. The riffs, the rhythms and the solos: all brilliant stuff deriving from a talented mind and an emotional soul of a musician who isn’t just copying his vinyls from the seventies, but tries and well succeeds in replenishing these roots and watering them into something fresh, strong and up to date. If in the beginning of his career with Spiritual Beggars Amott was caught in a brilliant haze of the works of Frank Marino, Jimi Hendrix and Uli Jon Roth, there’s only one shredder that can lay ground of his works nowadays: Michael Schenker. His startling UFO days are the foundation of what Amott is doing anno 2005. All his solos are baptized in the dark European light of Schenker’s evaluation of what the blues is and signifies. Naturally you will also hear influences from Roth, especially in his glorious days and nights with the mighty Scorpions and of course the Marino undertone…Marino is probably Amott most favorite shredder.
Amott’s blinding ability to come up with blistering riffs, dazzling solo and brutal rhythms is one of a kind. His work is amazingly talented and inspired, by none less than the White Goddess herself, the Muse! His melodies, white, melancholic and shiningly dark, catch your ear and never let it go. It gives me a hard on just focusing on what the man is doing with his fret. Exaggeration aside, Amott is the best composer and guitarist of our time and we all should feel privileged that we live in his times.
Ludwig Witt is a monster. Plain and simple. At the same time he is a very under estimated drummer, although I think “Modern Drummer” the magazine has made a feature about him. Ludde is the logical offspring of John Bonham. There is no doubt about that. His dynamics and histrionics are deafening. Ludde’s got the rhythm flowing in his blood. Once you have got that, you’re almost finished with being a grinding drummer. His powerhouse, over the top playing is very important to Spiritual Beggars. Supported by a huge production, his drum kit sets “Demons” on fire. His startling hitting, full of energy, fantasy and power creates each composition. After all, it’s him and Mike who first come up with the Beggars stuff…in their studio in Halmstad. Listen carefully using your headphones at what Ludde is playing: simply the best drummer around with a low profile and no ego at all. Swinging, swaying, grooving and rocking as hell, gets your feet stomping, your ears bleeding and your soul moving…Witt is the driving force and the metronomic pacer of the band
JB is the man on “Demons”. Since Spice’s left for good, there’s no other singer more suitable than JB. Try as hard as you can, you won’t think of anybody more ideal for the position behind the microphone. JB rules. His denim-and-leather vocal deliverance is a piece of brutality and melody, JB is a savage grace. He roars, and shouts, then sooths it done and gives you the chills with his smoothness and sublety. With the looks of a Hell’s Angel who’s turned metal, JB performs perfectly and incorporates Mike’s genius ideas about melody and heaviness. It’s easy to understand that JB was far more relaxed and comfortable with his role this time around. I’m sure JB feels he now belongs to the Beggars…and he sure does! His lyrics on “Never Heard” deal with paganism and are full of spite and irony against the christian empire. Nothing to do with evil and satanism, just pure paganism. Well, JB really did it this time and I’m looking forward to seeing him on stage again…off stage too!
Per Wiberg is so talented it makes Mike sick! And also so glad to work him. “Demons” is undoubtedly the record on which you get the most of him and his wizardry on the keyboards. He even plays a lot of solos this time and very cool ones. Drawing sounds and influences from Jon Lord and Ken Hensley, Wiberg creates a very heavy Hammond wall of power not just supporting the songs but also making moods and tidal waves of flowing emotions. Per is a great writer and a skilled player. Making full use of his Hammond (is it B3?), moog, mellotron and grand piano he utterly rules in the melodic and epic tracks of the record. Hats off to Per…
Last but not least the new entry, Sharlee D’Angelo: the fact and only that the bass on “Demons” is the heaviest the band has ever recorded is significant and speaks volumes for his abilities and input. The hell-bottom-end bass playing of his contributes greatly the soaring heaviness of the album and many times he reminds of a bastard mix between Lemmy, Geezer Butler and Cliff Burton. Well done, Sharlee.
Now let’s scrutinize the record track by track:
“Inner Strength”: starting off with Ludde’s drums developing to a vast full blown groove, this short instrumental introduction becomes an addictive pompous melody of epic proportions somewhere in between “Magician’s Birthday” and “Sabotage”.
“Throwing Your Life Away”: With Mike screaming in his amplifiers the record takes its toll. Heavy, melodic and catchy this is more than a typical SB song. After the middle of the track it gets groovy and striding with a charmingly Captain Beyond-ish way.
“Salt in Your Wounds”: this must definitely be the single/clip of the album. Fast, melodic and technical with two breath-taking solo on solo from Amott in the best Schenker tradition. I can’t get enough of it.
“One Man Army”: the title is obviously a tribute to the group Three Man Army…or simply drawn from them. A very rocky song with strong leads and pounding drums with a catchy refrain and not to forget Sharlee’s well crafted bass solo!
“Through the Halls”: a real downer, this song could be taken off the sessions from “Captain Beyond”. Begins with brooding, dark melodies and becomes a sizzling piece of guitar work.
“Dying Every Day”: a song that strongly reminds of “Sun in My hand” by Scorpions, one of Roth Hendrix-ian tunes…and features a brutal display of D’Angelo bass powers. Again Amott shows the world where the hammer falls…excellent.
“Born to Die”: so much death on “Demons”! A heavy track with beautiful choruses and a haunting melody…that glorifies herself on the “Reprise”, a doomy tune with a Japanese feel to it.
“In My Blood”: one of the most heavy metal songs by the Beggars with JB growling the lyrics in a way that would make Grand Magus envious haha! This track is a on stage must and a crowd pleaser.
“Elusive”: a song coming from the old days, somewhere in between “Another Way…” and “Mantra III”. Per’s keys are very similar to Vincent Crane/Atomic Rooster.
“Sleeping with One Eye Open”: same goes for this one too…only it goes back to the debut EP daze…killer!
“No One Heard” the intro is a homage to Uriah Heep’s “July Morning” and the songs culminates into a melodic and terribly heavy territory with JB cool, pagan lyrics and a dazzling mix of power and harmonies.

All in all, “Demons” is the monstrous amalgam between “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, “Force It”, “Virgin Killer”, “Trouble” and “Look at Yourself”. Take these records and play them at the same time…if you get confused, pick up “Demons” and you’ll have them all …and even better.
“Demons” is a real masterpiece with top notch performances and extremely inspired songs. I won’t indulge myself into making comparisons because to me all Spiritual Beggars records are brilliant masterpieces that rule my life and blow away most of the retro sounding bands under the sun. Dig it!
Vasilis Zacharopoulos.

[Darkling]

I trust SB, the album must be really good....


most of all i just really wanted to write a post in english on ER...

[VirusXI]

'Demons' rawks! \m/

[Ghoul]

its a very good album indeed. I listen to it all the time since it came to my pc (i still wait for my japanese copy). i think it is better than "on fire" but the comparison ends there. :p
I still miss spice's lyrics though.. :|

[Dimitra]

We all miss Spice and the truth is that the Beggars will never be the same without him...
Anyway, the point is that they are still producing great albums thanx to Amott's unique talent and Demons is another masterpiece...
What I liked most is that it is a rather varied album. One can find here dynamite songs with fast and heavy riffs ("Throwing Your Life Away", "Salt In Your Wounds"), slower and rather melancholic songs which take you back to the Mantra III era ("Through The Halls", "No One Heard") and tracks which combine power and melody ("Elusive", "Sleeping With One Eye Open"). "In My Blood" and "Treading Water" are classic awesome Beggars’ songs, while my favourite track so far is "Dying Every Day".
Waiting madly to see them live again soon.... 8)

[symposium_lexotanil]

this is possibly the most boring album i've ever listened to

[Ghoul]

you don't know from ball dude.

[Kingryche]

Well, I've been listening to the album for the last week.
I wouldn't want to come to some "quick conclusions" because sometimes the buzz about an upcoming release creates a non-objective view for its value (either in a positive, either in a negative way).

Demons is a really good hard rock album.But that's it...Nothing more, nothing less.
This album is NOT a masterpiece or something like that. Ok, some persons should recognize the fact,that being "friends" with some musicians or won't make all their albums perfect.
The album has some good songs, a couple of great songs but there are many hard rock albums better than this one.
Ammot writes some great melodies with his guitar and JB has a very nice voice but that's not enough to make a super album that is promoted...
One Man Army,Treading Water,Dying Every Day,Elusive and No One Heard are the songs I liked most

I'm really sorry, but the comparison between Bohnam and Ludwig Witt sounds funny...
Also, the lyrics should be better, especially if you compare them with Spice's lyrics.

I don't want to be misunderstood, this is a really good album but not a great one.

[Dimitra]

You may be right, ok, but either objective or not, Demons is a very good hard rock album. Maybe the word "masterpiece'' is too much but I think that nowadays there are not so many good hard rock albums. The question is : Do you like it when you hear it? Cause I like it a lot and in the end that's the only thing that matters... 8)

[chris_boss]

you don't know from ball dude.

[Jim Dandy Mangrum]

Do you like it when you hear it? Cause I like it a lot and in the end that's the only thing that matters... 8)

these times are very difficult for music...so that's the point!

[Buddy Lackey]

Well, I've been listening to the album for the last week.
I wouldn't want to come to some "quick conclusions" because sometimes the buzz about an upcoming release creates a non-objective view for its value (either in a positive, either in a negative way).

Demons is a really good hard rock album.But that's it...Nothing more, nothing less.
This album is NOT a masterpiece or something like that. Ok, some persons should recognize the fact,that being "friends" with some musicians or won't make all their albums perfect.
The album has some good songs, a couple of great songs but there are many hard rock albums better than this one.
Ammot writes some great melodies with his guitar and JB has a very nice voice but that's not enough to make a super album that is promoted...
One Man Army,Treading Water,Dying Every Day,Elusive and No One Heard are the songs I liked most

I'm really sorry, but the comparison between Bohnam and Ludwig Witt sounds funny...
Also, the lyrics should be better, especially if you compare them with Spice's lyrics.

I don't want to be misunderstood, this is a really good album but not a great one.
"Demons" delivers all S.B. elements on their zenith. The Amott riffing is here (and his guitar work in the album is without ANY doubts, amazing), JB's vocals are so emotionally overdosed and angry/strong at the same time, Per plays some of his best melodies in this album, and Witt, is just Witt. If you appreciate the feeling of the music produced by all these, you praise "Demons" if not.. you just think of it as a "good hard rock album". The magic is there.

[Inside Charmer]

Glad to see that various people have listened to "Demons". Thanks for posting your opinion, especially those who seem to disagree with my stated opinion...it's just another point of view and nothing more.
Listen to Spiritual Beggars.
Skal,

[Ghoul]

you don't know from ball dude.

you are OK.

[Kingryche]

Glad to see that various people have listened to "Demons". Thanks for posting your opinion, especially those who seem to disagree with my stated opinion...it's just another point of view and nothing more.
Listen to Spiritual Beggars.
Skal,

My opinion is just a point of view...we know that well,don't we?

I do like SB (both Spiritual Beggars and Spock's Beard :P ) and I would listen and buy the album anyway.
But, that's not my point.I believe that you make a mistake that all of us make sometimes with our favourite bands.We get too excited in the beginning, not considering if it's gonna stand the test of time.

My intentions are good and I'm not trying to persuade anyone, I'm just saying my opinion because I think that the reviews of the album are way too good, much more than it deserves.

[Inside Charmer]

Glad to see that various people have listened to "Demons". Thanks for posting your opinion, especially those who seem to disagree with my stated opinion...it's just another point of view and nothing more.
Listen to Spiritual Beggars.
Skal,

My opinion is just a point of view...we know that well,don't we?

I do like SB (both Spiritual Beggars and Spock's Beard :P ) and I would listen and buy the album anyway.
But, that's not my point.I believe that you make a mistake that all of us make sometimes with our favourite bands.We get too excited in the beginning, not considering if it's gonna stand the test of time.

My intentions are good and I'm not trying to persuade anyone, I'm just saying my opinion because I think that the reviews of the album are way too good, much more than it deserves.

Well again that's simply your evaluation of the record. I respect it like all opinions. If I am making a mistake or not, well, this is something we'll have to wait for. I wrote a big piece on "Demons", so I think I have pretty much supported my opinion. I love Spiritual Beggars, but if they were to make a shitty record I'd be first to say it. I am not sure about what you said concerning "being friends with musicians"...
In here we express our thoughts, you did so and you're welcome. I don't see the point of your second post, I didn't point anything against you.
So, let's drop the shit and get down with the real thing.
Skal,
P.S: "Demons" is a masterpiece.

[Kingryche]

Well, I appreciate you respect all opinions and I don't think you said anything against my point of view.
I just wanted to explain some things from my first post and just make clear that I'm not having any "bad intentions" to you or anyone when I'm saying that you overestimate this album (this happens oftenly with favourite artists).Maybe the quote was useless.
Anyway, there's no reason arguing, different opinions and conversation are always soething useful and "healthy" in a way.

"Seeing is believing or so they say,
But who's to judge what's real anyway?"

Cheers...

[TheHiddenHand]

megali diskara!!!!!kathe fora pou to akouo trekkenomai akoma perissotero,den uparxei kalitero sunaisthima apo to na akous tis terasties kithares tou Amott na se katasparazoun...kai ta spasa me to eksofullo!ante kai me to kalo na tous doume kai apo do... :headbang: proskuno tapeina...:worship:[/img]

[Buddy Lackey]

Wise words and nickname, but write in english please :D

[VirusXI]

I bought it yesterday as well.
I noticed that only one music store (rc) has the Special Edition set with the bonus disc...