On their second album “Pandeamonium”, Saint Deamon brings us a well oiled machine by adding to the foundation laid down one year ago. The legendary Roy Z produced this album and it is evident right from the very start that “Pandeamonium” has an amazing sound quality (any band that gets the same kind of treatment Judas Priest does is special in my book).

Opening track ‘Deception’ picks right up where the last album left off with a familiar vibe letting the listener know that the Swedes are back for more, thirsty like a vampire who hasn’t fed in several days. Again, I have to point out just what a stellar vocalist Jan Thore Grefstad is and he gives this band great identity. Second track ‘The Only One Sane’ packs a decent punch and gets the blood flowing a bit. ‘The Devils Eyes’ opens with speed metal riffing and blends with the melodic heavy metal sound that the band is known for. While driving home from work, when ‘The Deamon Within’ came blasting through the speakers my speed increased intensely due to the flat out heaviness (and thankfully there were no cops around to pull me over). This track reminded me of a bit of one of those heavier numbers on Symphony X’s 2007 monster release “Paradise Lost”. Deamon just sounds so tight when they play like this and it leaves me with a huge smile.

Saint Deamon does what they do well and I am overall impressed. This is a very good album but that debut still lurks in the shadows slightly over this one. I have a philosophy that most metal band’s third album is the one that catapults them to the next level (Maiden’s “Number of the Beast”, “Master of Puppets” from Metallica, Helloween’s “Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2”) and I hope that is the case with the next one from the Deamon.