The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise

The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise is the concluding half of a concept work, advancing the story begun in the first half The Rise with a darker, heavier expression. The pressure of the guitar, shaded singing and drama that rises slowly and steadily bind tightly, strongly and mercilessly reflecting the protagonist’s painful change and collapse. A record that powerfully caps a grand diptych. From the powerful drive of the opener “Never Say Die” and the aggression of “Resurrector” to cuts like “Clockwork Mary” and “Tear Down the Walls,” the songs support the concept while each firmly stands as a powerful rock number that can be heard alone. The closing “The Last Redemption” brings a moving end to the story. Its appeal is that W.A.S.P.’s outstanding theatricality, carefully stacking tension toward the story’s tragic destination, is deeply inscribed. By listening through both halves, the grand concept’s whole picture comes clearly into view. On which Lawless’s talent as a storyteller is displayed again, it is a dramatic, engaging concluding half.