Demian - Demian (2025) [Hi-Res]

A new band name was in order, Nick St. Nicholas chose Demian, title of the 1919 novel by Herman Hesse. His books were popular with the counterculture at the time and had provided Steppenwolf with their new name after they changed it from the Sparrow and hit it big. Demian recorded the LP live in the studio at the Record Plant in one midnight to six session. They had their arrangements fully realized, allowing them to combine live show energy and economy with to-the-point delivery suitable for repeated listening. No doubt they were aiming for pop hit success, using proto hard rock skills in a radio friendly way without compromising the heavy guitar moves. The vocals have echoes of the earlier Bubble Puppy style in spots but are more melodic with vibrant harmonies reminiscent of Moby Grape, Buffalo Springfield, James Gang… at times flashing on Steve Stills/Richie Furay westcoast without being too sweet about it. It works terrifically when the radio friendly voices top off killer hard guitar ensemble action. Early hard rock that is too bluesy flashy can get tiresome with repeat listening, especially if overdosing on guitar solos with the band relegated to the background… Demian keep it interesting with inventive song structures allowing all four players to integrate constantly into an ever changing but focused whole. This LP is a grower, despite the basic two guitars, bass and drums lineup and no frills production you reach a lot of different places during the ride. Demian is deadly hard rock, a perfectly organized vibe straddling live energy and crafted itinerary, amongst the first obscure major label killers that commanded premium $$ with collectors even way back in the late ‘70s. It gets you there every time, even half a century later!

Side One:

FACE THE CROWD was chosen as the single and had success locally in Southern California. A tuff riff and power chords with stereo panned pick slides kick it into gear topped by to-the- point vocals about a girl lying, bringing the singer down just before he needs to get up on stage and face the crowd. The soaring guitar leads in the break make it clear that any doubts are in the rear-view mirror, driven home in spades when the tempo doubles. The band establish their procedure here for guitar breaks throughout the LP, shifting gears never lingering long on one move, always using clever structures to propel you ahead. Terrific feedback hangs in the air as this brief 2:35 delight hits the finish line as a total winner.

WINDY CITY shifts gears to mid-tempo with jazzy minor key chords with articulated guitar leads flashing on a melodic bluesy early Carlos Santana style. There’s a somewhat crazy lady weaving through dark dangerous streets, she is the kinda woman the singer needs to get down with. The break moves through several moods with starts and stops, both aggressive and floating moves. Dual guitar harmonies repeat on the extended outro as added percussion widen the undercurrents the dark groove creates. Slightest hints of progressive underground rock composition do not spoil the detached sense of bleak real life and sketchy desire captured here.

LOVE PEOPLE carries a bittersweet torch concerning the need for human connection and the pain you feel when losing that. Acoustic guitars and heartfelt vocals do not lapse into maudlin self pity, you can always find a new lover and get warm inside again. This is a folky respite from the dominant hard rock on the LP and it is placed perfectly in the program, setting you up for the relentlessly heavy track that comes next.

COMING is the storm after the calm, closing out side one in a savage manner. It enters with a brief fake prog intro and slides into a tuff stalker rhythm groove with lyrics about Mother Nature falling down, nailed to the wall with ominous biting power moves. The only escape is running away with the right woman. The extended break here incorporates snarling lead guitar trade offs, dual action, more fake prog moves with a vocal flourish… like the other breaks on the LP gears continually shift right on time taking you through varying scenery quickly. The way the leads spitfire out at your face makes you think Jimmy Page might have been in the room!

Side Two:

TODD’S TUNE has a very personal ‘music will save your life’ message of reassurance, that it’s OK when things go south with your lady, you still got your sounds, the lyrics during the more plaintive first half of the song capture that with clarity. Then it veers off into a heavy downward spiraling riff reminiscent of Ten Years After with wailing speed freak guitar leads raging as it heads to a close.

NO MORE TENDERNESS contains more musings on what the love of a woman can do to your head. Heavy riff is intermittently deployed like a recurring stand back and take stock of the situation breather throughout, vocals again deliver some Richie Furay Buffalo Springfield flashes in a harder rock context. The tone and attack in the guitar break is like acid spiked with speed, reaching a devastating climax before returning to the vocal. Demian is not a psychedelic record but embers still burn amidst the harder edge occasionally.

ARE YOU WITH ME BABY has midtempo minor key brooding power, a desperate plea, the singer needs a woman who can let him be himself for things to work out. Interlocking gutsy dual rhythm guitar action jags at you from the left and right, seamlessly united with your head right in the middle. The leads achieve an almost sardonic sense of resignation, as if there is no clear answer to the question the song asks. As usual they keep the arrangement interesting with discreet inventive turns, peaking with a driving adrenalin bit where the drums and guitars climax together.

ONLY A LONER seamlessly unites disparate elements of ZZ Top Texas boogie, jangly refrains, tricky dual guitar passages and gnarly leads into an anthem for loners caught up in the turbulent times of broken down society, unsure about joining revolution against the status quo but finding brotherhood, recognizing each other as they ride through the night alone. The dynamics on this closing track confirm what the entire LP conveys… Demian are ace at constructing unpretentious down to earth people music where anything fancy is kept behind the curtain and not a second is wasted. It’s a tough call but this is my favorite track currently, there is no weakness during the entire ride so that may change tomorrow!