Josiah Queen, "Demons"
Posted January 21, 2026
By josiahscott2023,
Josiah Queen has launched off the 2026 year with a strong attempt. The track begins quietly and modestly, in a minor, edgy tone. For the first verse and chorus, the song is entirely Queen's vocals and Dylan Thomas' acoustic guitar accompanying each other, until the second verse, when backing percussion and bass notes appear. An overall "wall of sound" explodes at the chorus to implement the signature combination of industrial and folk rock which has characterized Queen's latest work.
The build on this song is exceptional—I laud the effort to start slow and gradually pick up pace before being hit with a loud, richly textured chorus. I also applaud the way that Queen was able to include both a chorus with a melody memorable enough to carry the entire song in addition to a bridge with a melody memorable enough to carry the entire song—the inclusion of both makes this song catchy, and the sort of track that will get stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It also emphasizes the fact that Queen did not craft this song in half an hour—it was well thought out and prepared.
On the other hand, I felt that the lead-up measure to the chorus was poorly structured. The chorus begins with the line, "Tell those demons...", before falling head-first into the most intense part of the song. Because "Demons" is in 4/4 time, a three-beat pick-up note is an odd choice. If I were in Queen's position, I think I would have changed the final word of that phrase to last for two beats rather than one.
But, all things considered, this is only a minor error in the grand scheme of this song. Overall, with its catchy melody and rich texture, I believe that this song has hit potential. I also believe that it could not only become one of Queen's most successful songs, but also one of the biggest breakout singles of 2026. View All Music And Book Reviews By josiahscott2023 | View josiahscott2023's Profile
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