The Neon God: Part Two - The Demise

The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise takes off immediately where its “part 1” predecessor left off. As soon as the first track “Never Say Die” hits, things are pretty in your face, representing the big turning point of the story. For that showcasing alone, and the fact that there’s a slight step up in grit regarding execution, I give this album a few more points. Well, the fact that it’s shorter helps a bit too.

But otherwise, this is obviously going to be filled with the same issues that I had with the first part. Here is where you will find the instrumental buildups releasing themselves the most. There are punchier rhythm sections, albeit (you guessed it) retreaded ideas from long ago. There are a few more rock ‘n roll vibes borrowed from the Still Not Black Enough Days mixed into this one. Oh, and guess what, here we get those repetitive hooks that hearken back to earlier ideas on the album. “Ressurrector” is the song I’m thinking of, as it’s your reprise of the beginning of the first CD. And even that in and of itself sounds way too much like the rhythms used in The Crimson Idol.

It really is a shame. W.A.S.P. put out the best record they had done in several years before this series. It’s like Blackie saw the success with that and needed to follow his own history by cranking out another (two) massive concept record that takes the fans by storm. Except it didn’t. These are some of the most forgotten records he’s ever released, and it’s that way for a good reason. Hear it if you must, but to be honest, I’d skip this album just as well as I’d skip the prior one.

This is the best WASP album. You only have to listen carefully all the disc to know what I exactly mean...! Not once, but 10 times or more. All the WASP feeling is here, through the ages and affects to everyone's soul. Just a jewel in the history of heavy metal!

First of all, the lyrics speak about people today. WASP tries to show that we are finding for our personal neon god and when we find him, we can do anything for him cause we believe that he is the one. These lyrics are taken from our daily life and in my opinion are 100 % true. Through this, WASP wants to tell people not doing this because it's not right to deify things or situations. For our good and only.


The guitars here have an incredible rhythm and associate flawlessly with the keys which are plenty here and remind something from the Who's style. The sound is very fresh and emotional. Although the singer's voice is more grating he accomplishes to create many feelings to the listeners. Especially the screaming in the end of the first track can make you crawl!

Many funs were considering that WASP would split up before this disc but they achieve to refresh their sound keeping together all this things that made them popular and famous. In my opinion this is an answer to all who think that WASP haven't something new to present to our music today!

In my review of ‘The neon God: Part 1’ I made the statement that one should be prepared for a surprise with the forthcoming ‘Part 2’ installment. The fact that Blackie Lawless is notorious for exploring different musical styles had me thinking that, just maybe, Part 2 would throw a few curve balls our way. Alas, it isn’t so.

On reflection, it’s quite understandable. Remember folks, Part 2 was written and recorded at the same time as Part 1. This is the ending to the story that Blackie first unloaded on us some six months ago. Of course, it was meant to be released as a double album, but true to the conservative form of record companies, that just wasn’t viable. Hell, even Metallica, the biggest metal band on the planet couldn’t convince their label to make such a move for the Load albums. So, six months on from the excellent Part 1 disc, Sanctuary Records urges everyone who liked that one, to now fork out another $30 for the privilege of hearing Part 2. It’s a bit rich if you ask me, but hey, that’s the music biz folks. Even in Metal!

It’s actually a little difficult to review this album. This fact is compounded even further because it’s not really a new album. Sure, it’s a new release, but the content is just the unfinished business we didn’t get to hear six months ago. So in terms of theme, musical ideas, song structure and overall feel of this disc, it’s probably just as safe to go back and read my review for Part 1, because it’s basically a direct carbon copy.

Part 2 simply picks up musically where Part 1 left off. If you were expecting some surprises, then you will be sadly disappointed. Conversely, if you enjoyed Part 1 and it’s dark, reflective melancholic feel then Part 2 is its obvious continuation. Having said that, and as much as I do enjoy Part 2, the question begs to be asked – was there really ever enough ideas in Blackie’s tortured artist concept to allow 23 tracks to be written? There is possibly enough filler on both that could have been fleshed out to come up with a strong ‘one disc’ release - Just an observation that some would make no doubt. Then again, Blackie would say that each and every track is crucial to the next one in the whole conceptual story. If it ends up being 23 tracks, so be it - Double album, released six months apart. Deal with it.

Although there are few surprises on Part 2, Blackie has written some stellar material. I won’t say that anything on this rivals his classic material of yesteryear, but the more inventive moments like the monstrous 13-minute closer ‘The Last Redemption’ is worth the price alone. Other tracks such as ‘Come Back to Black’, Clockwork Mary’ and the haunting ballad ‘All My Life’ are also some of the stronger moments on this disc.

I’ve a feeling that Blackie might be glad to done and dusted with the ‘Neon God’ concept. It probably took him a year to write and then another year to see both discs released. If this is the case, I am expecting the man to pursue another direction on the next WASP disc - Perhaps its time for another ‘Helldorado’ or ‘self-titled debut’ shock rock! (if only!!)