Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
OF LIMBO’s “California Demon” is the latest raucous single from Luke and Jake Davies’ Long Beach California based band. The rock n’ roll brothers fully embody the best aspects of full-throttle modern hard rock. They come from “The Land Down Under” – that has produced several memorable hard rock outfits over the past half-century, AC/DC and Airbourne are good examples – and the Davies siblings are ready to join such august company. Singles such as “California Demon” poise them for such a moment.
They do a little of everything with this track. The punishing guitar riffs anchoring the main body of the song roll over any resistance you may have with their physicality. They can seamlessly shift gears, as well, into moody theatrics that never sound overwrought. OF LIMBO, thankfully, doesn’t harp on the genre’s tired tropes, but instead reinvigorates the form for modern audiences.
Staying grounded with the fundamentals and practicing the right kind of familiarity is a boon to their efforts. They have a firm grasp on what hard rock fans crave and fulfill those desires with skill. It isn’t simply a matter of giving audiences what they want. OF LIMBO are ardent fans of the genre having steeped themselves in its rugged character since youth and that passion for the music comes through loud and clear during the entirety of the song. This isn’t an attempt to cash in on a popular style. They mean every word and line.
Leaning on the classic tale of a young individual willing to barter with their soul for a chance to be famous is a shrewd move. It’s a fitting subject matter for the genre, as well, and the lead vocals tell the story alternating from a full-on scream into hushed verses rife with menace. Lesser talents would diminish the impact of this material with hollow histrionics, but OF LIMBO strikes the right balance between horror movie-style foreboding and all-out fury.
Those qualities come out in the song’s video as well. It mixes nods to the song’s story alongside performance footage of the band. OF LIMBO is in full flight during the clip and it’s not a stretch to assume that this is an accurate reflection of the same commitment they bring to their stage show. They bathe the video’s cinematography in red, shadow, and fire befitting the subject matter. It’s an effective visual for the song.
“California Demon” is the latest winner in a string of memorable tracks for OF LIMBO. They’ve steadily built a reputation as a fire-breathing live act but, frankly, the studio material isn’t far behind in terms of intensity. They are the musical equivalent of a live wire. It’s an electrifying performance from one of the most promising hard rock acts to come along in some time and bears every indication that they’ll continue to get better as the years roll on. Get in on this band now because, sooner rather than later, everyone will know about OF LIMBO.
Brent Musgrave
