Ray Luzier
www.RayLuzier.com

Toshi Hiketa
www.ToshiHiketa.com

James LoMenzo
www.JamesLoMenzo.com



The Hideous Sun Demons are bursting from talent and technique. In normal life drummer Ray Luzier, bass player James LoMenzo and guitar player Toshi Hiketa are David Lee Roth's band. As Dave takes it easy nowadays (the man turned 50 last month) these gentlemen have plenty of time on their hands to do other projects. A few years ago they started The Hideous Sun Demons, an instrumental trio in which they turn their love for science fiction and horror into music.

The song titles on this debut are evidence of their mutal interests: "The Mummy", "The Maze" and "Brainwashed". The material ranges from jams to compact, powerful songs. Opening track "Elevation" sounds like David Lee Roth during the "A Little Ain't Enough" era. It has plenty of variation, great hooks and many Vai-like guitar fills. Variation is the motto of this album, "Osaka Funk" is like the title suggests very funky, while "The Mummy" is at least as heavy as White Zombie. In the fast jazzy piece "Mosquito" Toshi Hiketa plays his fingers into a knot. On the Zappa-ish "Brainwashed" he again proves to be a real string monster. The guitar sounds on this song are fantastic and the most innovative I've heard in years. It's no surprise this guy can play, as David Lee Roth always joins forces with super talents (Van Halen, Vai, Becker).

Overall this is a damn fine debut album which will give the marketing department of the record company plenty of headaches as this band can't be put into a category. Lords of Metal readers who liked Liquid Tension Experiment can buy this album without hesitation. Let's hope these guys record an album with Dave sometime soon. With so much energy and talent it's something to look forward to.
www.lordsofmetal

This band has vowed to stake their claim in the musically high tech world inhabited by such musical super heroes as Liquid Tension Experiment, Niacin and Bozzio Levin Stevens. I must say that they have succeeded. If I had to compare Hideous Sun Demons with the aforementioned bands I must say that these Demons are a little less experimental and more melodic / song oriented.
www.rockezine.net

The album is a strong slice of virtuoso musicianship firmly planted in the progressive field. Will appeal to fans of acts such as Liquid Tension Experiment. There is a strong jazzy vibe to much of the work here, but it still rockin’. Toshi Hiketa proves himself to be a monster player, with a quirky Vai like style and you can see why Diamond Dave chose these guys to back him.
www.virtuosityone.com