Saint Deamon - In Shadows Lost From The Brave

Published January 11 2008

*=Staff's pick	The Exodus (Intro) My Judas* In Shadows Lost From The Brave* My Heart The Burden No Mans Land* Ride Forever Black Symphony Deamons* The Brave Never Bleeds My Sorrow Run For Your Life

Genre	Melodic Heavy Metal	Jan Thore Grefstad	Vocals
Tracks	12	Toya Johansson	Guitar
Runningtime	45 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Frontiers Records	Nobby Noberg	Bass
Release	25 Jan. 2008	Ronny Milianowicz	Drums
Country	Sweden/Norway	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	Dionysus, Helloween, Nocturnal Rites, Narnia

Saint Deamon is a brand new outfit with members from both Sweden and Norway. The name hails from a fictive ghost rider called S. Deamon and is supposed to symbolise the contrast between the heavenly/diabolical feel in the music they perform. This might be a new group but the band members are far from being rookies. The band was formed in 2006 by drummer Ronny Milianowicz which probably most of you, our dear readers, know from Dionysus. He has also worked a lot writing songs for other bands such as Primal Fear and Cans. The bassist Nobby Nobergs last employment was in Dionysus as well and the vocalist Jan Thore Grefstad has previously worked with the Norwegian power metallers Highland Glory.

When you now know the background of Saint Deamon I know for sure you won't be surprised of how they actually sound. It's no doubt that Ronny Milianowicz has been involved in the songwriting here, melodic heavy metal on the border to be labelled as power metal. As said earlier, the band name is meant to be a description of their sound and looking upon the opener My Judas I must say that it is a perfect declaration of the band. In fact, the coldness in the verse makes me think of black metal regarding the riffs and melodies but when the chorus arrives we have reached heaven so to speak with a catchy sing-a-long refrain. Up next is pure power metal heaven in the shape of the title track; pumping bass drums, a Helloweenesque bridge and as the cream of the crop a chorus for the masses!

I must point out that even though the record is consistent throughout regarding the quality, it lacks originality and variation. I would for sure have loved a bit more adventurous moments in the music to take it to another level. The album is on the other hand very accessible and easy to get into and a track like No Mans Land is a perfect example of how you make a simple song with a unique touch. The stomping heavy verse in midtempo literally make your body move whether you like it or not and in the catchy and efficient chorus the pace is picked up in a most enjoyable way. Simply put, the composition is perfect in every aspect and definitely my favourite pick of the album.

Saint Deamon was a quite pleasant new acquaintance and this should most definitely appeal to all of you who are into bands like Dionysus and Nocturnal Rites. It's no doubt that they are in top of their genre but I would like seeing a bit more of those heaven and hell contrasts that the band name refers to, as heard in My Judas, next time. The future looks bright for Saint Deamon though.