The Unexpected Guest

Demon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Spaced Out Music
• ASIN: B000075A4M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,897 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. An Observation

2. Don't Break The Circle

3. Spell

4. Total Possession

5. Sign Of A Madman

6. Victim Of Fortune

7. Have We Been Here Before?

8. Strange Institution

9. Grand Illusion

10. Beyond The Gates Of Hell

11. Deliver Us From Evil

12. Outro

13. Don't Break The Circle ( 1988 Remix)

14. Have We Been Here Before? (Hill / Spooner)

15. Victim Of Fortune ( Out-Take)

16. Strange Institution ( Out-Take)

Editorial Reviews

Demon's second album The Unexpected Guest was recorded in 1982 at Bray Studios, famous for the Hammer Horror Films. Even today people still talk about 'The Unexpected Guest' in reverential terms, many citing it as one of the most powerful and finest examples of its genre. Certainly, it showcased the band's distinctive Classic Rock musical style and the thoughtful, imaginative lyrics of Dave Hill and Mal Spooner. The addition of Andy Richards on keyboards gave yet more depth to the already expansive Demon sound. Furthermore, this second album offering was more complete, flowing easily from beginning to end.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars - Demon's best album and a NWOBHM classic, February 28, 2006

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unexpected Guest (Audio CD)

It's good to see the Demon albums getting the remaster treatment. They certainly deserve it. Demon was always one of the more underrated New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands - come to think of it, aside from Maiden, Saxon and a few others, they were all underrated.

The Unexpected Guest, released in 1982, is Demon's second album, and a real classic. It alternates between being straight-ahead heavy metal and dramatic, melodic hard rock, sounding like equal parts Saxon and Uriah Heep. The combination works quite well. Songs like "Don't Break the Circle" and "Deliver Us from Evil" are powerful metal anthems, and dramatic pomp-rock numbers like "Victim of Fortune" and "Have We Been Here Before" would have been at home on a Magnum album. The Unexpected Guest is primarily a metal album, but there are enough melodic, accessible songs included that it really should have appealed to a wider audience. I imagine the band's sinister name scared off a fair share of potential listeners.

If you're a metal fan, particularly fan of the classic 1980's British metal sound, and haven't heard Demon, I highly recommend checking them out. The Unexpected Guest is a great album to start with, as it's easily their most "metal" offering and probably their best album overall (yes, even better than Night of the Demon).

Edition Notes: Dead Ringer's 2003 reissue of The Unexpected Guest provides a much needed upgrade, not to mention getting this classic album back in circulation after a long absence. The remastered sound breathes new life into the album, and there are four bonus tracks included for good measure. The bonus tracks are remixes or outtakes of songs on the main album, and don't really add much. The liner notes could have been better too. The lyrics are printed inside, along with a very brief note from Dave Hill. Some additional artwork, photos, or commentary (see Castle's excellent NWOBHM reissues) would have been a nice touch.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, September 26, 2003

By 

Paul Sirugo (Lindome Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unexpected Guest (Audio CD)

This is one of the best Heavy Metal albums ever released - in my opinion. I bought it already in 1983 and I have kept playing it occasionally since that day - for over 20 years now!

Demon took the metal world by storm with this album in the early 80's. Three of my ten metal favorites are on this album only: "Beyond the gates", "Have we been here before" and "Don't break the circle". The guitar solo of "Don't break the circle" is a solo that you can listen to a million times without getting tired of it. "Beyond the gates" is the best heavy metal piece I know of.

Demon plays catchy melodic but really heavy metal not really comparable to any other group.

After this album one of the group members died tragically and Demon somewhat changed the way they wrote lyrics and melodies. Also "Night of the demon" is a really good album but a bit newbie-styled.
Well worth the money though.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this album a chance - it's a gem!, January 29, 2003

By 

L. B. Ivarsson (Rock City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unexpected Guest (Audio CD)

Demon released "The unexpected guest" in 1982. Around this time bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead etc were in focus. Demon might be considered a heavy metal band but they don't sound like Maiden or Priest. It's kinda hard to describe the music 'cos I can't find any band to compare them with... The songs are well written, catchy and melodic but has nothing at all in common with so called pop-metal, hair-metal or whatever you choose to call it. The lyrics show a curiousity in life after death but has nothing to do with devil worship.

Sometimes I think reveiwers give albums 5 stars without even thinking about it - "if it's good, alright I'll give it a 5". But this album is in my opinion well worth 5 stars, or for that matter - [$$$]!

If you like this one, maybe you find the first one "Night of the demon" interesting but have in mind that "Night of the demon" isn't by far as good as "The unexpected guest". And if you decide to buy Demon's other albums - remember that you do it on your own risk of disappointment!!