DEMON BITCH - Master Of The Games CD

"Hellfriends" was such a good heavy-speed-power metal album. It featured amazing songwriting, closely resembling Slauter Xstroyes, Jag Panzer, and early Fates Warning, with a touch of Watchtower's intricate rhythm sections and complex song patterns. I bought it immediately when it was released. However, the songs were somewhat challenging for listeners. I had to revisit the album and listen to it many times before considering it a classic of the genre. If such an album had been released in 1986, it would have achieved cult status by now, like "Winter Kill" or Gargoyle's self-titled LP.

In "Master of the Games", the songs are catchier while still retaining their complexity. Each song has a hook—a standout moment, whether it's a riff, a rhythm change, or a solo—that grabs you right away. As a result, this album is more accessible than its predecessor. Every song is distinctive. The riffs are incredible, the guitars dominate the sound, and the album as a whole is intensely theatrical and dramatic. Instrumentally, it reminds me of Satan's Host, Jag Panzer, and Fates Warning, with hints of modern bands like Chevalier and Portrait! While the vocals may sound unusual to some, I love them. If you enjoy Jon Arch's vocal delivery on the first three Fates Warning records, you can imagine what Logan Saton sounds like. It's a perfect album, sounding exactly as it should.

No single song particularly stands out because they are all equally strong. This is a must-listen for fans of Apollo Ra, Deaf Dealer, Zion’s Abyss, Slauter Xstroyes, Gargoyle, Damascus, and Dead Calm, to name just a few cult bands in the genre. This record will undoubtedly be considered a classic in the years to come.