Shadow Demon Bio

While Seattle is widely believed to be the city that single-handedly killed metal in America by supplying the masses with the grunge trend, the metal heart has always pumped furiously, albeit quietly. While the rest of the world jumped from trend to trend, being permeated first with grunge, then nu-metal, the spirit of Shadow Demon sat on its haunches, poised to strike at the perfect moment. The moment is now. On the eve of the release of their debut album, one can almost feel the chill that runs down the collective spine of an unsuspecting metal community.

After nearly two years of hard work, Shadow Demon has decided the world is finally ready for "Grimoire of Ruin". This sinister masterpiece borrows elements from almost every facet of metal, though sounds like none. Blaine Hammond's vocals ring with the power and passion of Matt Barlow (ex-Iced Earth) and have shades of Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), yet he is distinct in his tone and vocal delivery. Jeff Helm balances dark, thrashy riffs with Ryan Gallagher's melodic leads, and bassist James Rinker adds thundering bass while still contributing tasteful licks. The drumming of Jay Davidson only adds another dimension to the soundscape, as his attack is both visceral and musical.

The Seattle based Power Thrashers formed in early 2002 when Jeff Helm and Blaine Hammond came to the realization that the Pacific Northwest was sorely lacking in metal with any discernable melody. Shortly thereafter, the duo was joined by bassist James Rinker. Not satisfied in becoming just another cookie cutter band in the international metal scene, Helm began to pen the menacing hymns that would make up their self titled demo with lyrical input from Hammond and Rinker. Joined by guest drummer Clint Clark and lead guitarists Tim Diedrich and Kirk Meredith, as well as the help of Heir Apparent main man Terry Gorle, the three track demo was released in late 2003 to positive reception from both press and fans alike.

After a long, difficult search, Shadow Demon found the perfect permanent drummer in Jay Davidson. The greater portion of 2005 was spent writing what would become the Grimoire of Ruin, as well as searching for a suitable lead guitarist. In early 2006 while opening for Sonata Arctica, Ryan Gallagher made his debut as their new lead axe-man. The rest of the year was spent finalizing the writing process and recording the Grimoire.

With the line-up firmly in place, the band decided to recruit revered artist Mattias Noren (known for his work for the likes of Evergrey, Into Eternity and Ayreon) to create a package that was worthy of the music held within. Mattias proved to be the right man for the job, effectively creating the most brooding artwork to grace a metal album cover in years. Now it is time for the Grimoire to be opened and for the demons within to be unleashed. Are you ready?