Demons

Demons are essentially Portsmouth's answer to Anvil. Although, slightly, musically superior. Unfortunately it seems that people would much rather buy half-assed blow-fi recordings from three plebian hoxtonettes, than pick up Pompey's latest space rock odyssey.

The four reluctant rockstars that make up the most epically titled band in the UK, hail from the UK's only island city, yet sound like Black Sabbath; circa Birmingham in the nineteen eighties. They're being classed as a 'neu band' despite knocking about for years and kicking out a shitload of 'officially' released satan worshipping compositions.

Their new record released via UK independent Function Records is a sonic collage of psychedelia, oldschool prog-rock, garage and rock'n'roll that would have John Peel turning in his grave!

We asked them what their favourite Sabbath tunes were, answers below. Enjoy the demonomania:

1. Sweet Leaf - The ultimate chronic jam to “light up” any party. The wheezing cough intro melts into the thumping, groovy riff. Man, what a sweet riff. My favourite Black Sabbath number. And words to live by. On the rare occasion that you hear this out and about it never fails to get a crazy reaction.

2. War Pigs - Of course the name of our band has to be honoured and this swell ode to war mongering is as poignant now as it was in 1970. They took this song in so many directions, it’s a head wrecker to learn, but as it’s Sabbath it’s just ingrained there in the back of your mind anyway, so it’s easy really. If a band wrote a song like this now minds would still be exploding. Geezer Butler is a songwriting genius. The highlight of second album Paranoid.

3. The Wizard - We like this one, not just because some of the Demons actually look like Wizards, but it gives Tom a chance to show off his fine harmonica skills! The first Sabbath album is basically heavy blues gone evil, and this little number is a fine example of that early power and groove.

4. Children Of The Grave - Another Master Of Reality cut, and another War Pigs favourite. Pummelling heaviness, and a gonzoid repetitive riff, but really this one showed off the excellent tribal drumming skills of Bill Ward, the best hard rock drummer. Bill didn’t play with Sabbath when I saw them at Ozzfest 98, due to a heart attack in rehearsals, but when he came onstage to wave to the fans Ozzy quickly pulled down his trousers. And? Well, Bill Ward has a massive cock. As also proved by his performance here. It was amazing in 1974 too:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRhZISswW_k

5. Supernaut - No top Sabbath list is compete without something from Volume 4 and we think Supernaut may just be the cut that does it here. A ridiculous riff once again. “I wanna reach out and touch the sky/I wanna touch the sun, but I don’t need to die”... We haven't mentioned Sabbath's (comparatively) "straight man" Tony Iommi yet, and I guess a lot of credit for the riff lies with the thimble fingered guitar god. Another War Pigs crowd pleaser!

Demons play The Stag's Head in London on the 16 Dec 2009 alongside Sex Beet and French Kissing.