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Saint Deamon: Pandaemonium

Saint Deamon: Pandaemonium

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal
Rating: 3.75/5.0

Frontiers Records
www.saintdeamon.se
www.myspace.com/saintdeamonband
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.07.2009

With a second release come high expectations for a band. Not the least of which is avoiding the dreaded 'sophomore jinx,' the bane and downfall of many a band over the years. What holds forth for Saint Deamon's Pandeamonium? Frankly, this Swedish melodic metal band has little to worry about simply because they have stayed the course from In Shadows Lost From The Brave. The lineup has remained stable and, generally, the music has remained the same: a hodge podge ranging from melodic hard rock to power metal. If no change or innovation is progress, than Saint Deamon is in fine shape.

As with their previous release, Pandeamonium is rather choppy in content. Mostly it's melodic heavy metal with some power metal undertones as on Deception, The Only One Sane, or Fallen Angel, all of which are fine pieces, but hardly extraordinary. At least two songs, A Day To Come and Oceans of Glory, deliver more symphonic melodic metal to a better, more entertaining result. But then there are those tracks which could easily pass for melodic hard rock rather than metal including the title track, a hugely inviting ballad, the groove-laden Way Home, and the immensely melodic and catchy Fear Of A Fragile Mind. At their worst, Saint Deamon gives you generic power metal on The Deamon Within, a throw away piece hardly fitting for the album. One could say that this variety shows that Saint Deamon has creative depth. Conversely, one could say that the band lacks direction, and I might agree. In the end, despite the predictable consistency, Pandeamonium is another entertaining release.

Saint Deamon avoids the 'sophomore jinx' on Pandeamonium by simply staying the course from their debut, delivering an eclectic disc of music ranging from melodic hard rock to aggressive power metal. If more of the same is progress, then Saint Deamon has taken the high road.

In Short

Saint Deamon avoids the 'sophomore jinx' on Pandeamonium by simply staying the course from their debut, delivering an eclectic disc of music ranging from melodic hard rock to aggressive power metal. Despite the predictable consistency, Pandeamonium is another entertaining release.

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