Earthless – Night Parade of One Hundred Demons Review

Take your time. But, really, take your time. Take your time and enjoy the trip Earthless invite you with “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.” But be patient. It takes a while for the band to get on it.

“Night Parade of One Hundred Demons” is the opposite of all this fast food market mindset that unfortunately infected music these days. “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons” is slow to the point, Earthless repeat the phrases, effects, and riffing at exhaustion and ad infinitum looking for the best combination and sound. An album that belongs to other time and it’s proud of it. Add to the bursting cauldron a bit of Led Zeppelin – hmm, bit? “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons…” tells me otherwise, but whatever – a bit of Frank Zappa, a little more of Black Sabbath, and the genious of Jeff Beck on the guitars. Ah, and of course, the essence of Prog Rock. Here you have a time defying album.

“Night Parade of One Hundred Demons…” is the song Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham would like to have recorded but Robert Plan wouldn’t let them. Picture the scene, a twenty-minute long song with no, absoluteley no vocals and Jimmy Page looking angry to Robert Plan every time he opens his mouth. Shush! Shush! Would he say. Not a peep! hahahahahahahahaha No money in this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet would pay for it. Now imagine a serious John Paul Jones playing his bass with one hand on the strings and the other on his lips telling him to shush. hahahahahahahahahahaha

The album is inspired by an ancient Japanese legend in which a horde of demons, ghosts and other terrifying ghouls descend upon the sleeping villages once a year. Known as Hyakki Yagyō, or the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, one version of the tale states that anyone who witnesses this otherworldly procession will die instantly—or be carried off by the creatures of the night. As a result, the villagers
hide in their homes, lest they become victims of these supernatural invaders. The three songs in the album tell how it would be if turned into music. Well, to me a timeless masterpiece. One of the most inspired albums I’ve heard in my five years here. Not only due to the musical references but also to the playing and the inspiration. And, of course, for the courage of Nuclear Blast Records to release such an album. If I don’t forget – it’s only January – one of the nominated albums of the year.

Earthless “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons” will be released on January 28th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Track Listing:

  1. Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (Part 1)
  2. Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (Part 2)
  3. Death to the Red Sun

Watch “Death to the Red Sun” official video here: