This week we bring you the first installment of Jarvis' interview with Carlos Cruz, a veteran drummer perhaps best known for his work in Warbringer and Powertrip. The interview begins with Carlos discussing his deep family roots in music, including his grandfather's recorded output. After a detour into the perils and hazards to the human body of playing heavy metal music for an extended period of time, and the corresponding need for self-care and treatment along the way, the interview traces Carlos' musical journey through high school cover bands to the burgeoning LA thrash movement in the early 2000s and eventually to the pivotal moment when he joined Warbringer in 2010.

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This week, we bring you a special treat, as Jarvis sat down for an interview with Ricky Warwick (The Almighty, Black Star Riders, etc.) prior to Ricky's acoustic gig in Northern Ireland. In this wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, Ricky reflects on the many facets of his career, from breaking big with New Model Army to forming The Almighty at an opportune time to opportunities with Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders to the terrifying aspects of solo acoustic gigs. You're guaranteed to learn a lot about the man, his musical path, his motivations and his perspectives on a variety of topics.

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This week we conclude Jarvis' three-part interview of Cirith Ungol founder / drummer Robert Garven going back through the mists of time to the early days of that legendary band.  Rob explains how vocalist Tim Baker came into the fold and talks about the previous singer, Neil Beattie. He goes on to tell the remarkable story of how the Frost and Fire debut album came to be. It was a completely DIY affair, from financing to recording to artwork to pressing to distribution, which was unheard of in those days. Rob also explains how he obtained the legal right to use the Cirith Ungol name from the Lord of the Rings books. It's a fascinating dive into a bygone era, at the very dawn of heavy metal in America.

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This week we continue our in-depth interview with Cirith Ungol founder / drummer Robert Garven. He and Jarvis explore the early days of Cirith Ungol, from rehearsal spaces to 70s-era concerts to demo recordings to experiences seeing or playing with bigger bands. You will learn how the famous orange tape came to be, how the band settled on the Cirith Ungol name, how the first album recordings were financed, and much more. Crack a cold one and take this walk down memory lane through heavy metal history.

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This week we bring you the first installment of Jarvis's riveting interview with Cirith Ungol drummer Robert Garven. You will learn about Rob's ancestry and upbringing from his birth in San Antonio through relocation to Ventura and how he discovered rock'n'roll at a tender age with the help of childhood friend and future bandmate Greg Lindstrom. Along the way, Jarvis shares parallels and aspects of divergence between his and Rob's formative years.

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This week we wrap up our extended coverage of the Frost & Fire V Festival in Night Demon's birthplace of Ventura, California. You will hear about the excellent aftershow highlighted by local throwbacks Ardi and Los Angeles thrashers Serpent. The guys also describe their overall impressions of the festival, their feelings the following day whilst breaking down the equipment, and their aspirations for what is yet to come. We cap off this run of episodes with a full airing of Night Demon's electrifying performance of "Black Sabbath" into "Howling Man" during the first night of the festival.

LINKS

Ardi - Music | ARDI

Serpent - Serpent (@serpent.heavy.metal) • Instagram photos and videos

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In October 2025, Cirith Ungol returned to their hometown of Ventura, California as conquering heroes with a crushing performance headlining the second night of the Frost and Fire V festival. In this episode, you will hear extensive live clips from that performance, as well as the reactions and reflections of band and crew about that memorable night. Stay tuned until the end and you might hear a little teaser about what could happen in 2026.

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Of course, it wouldn't be a Frost and Fire Festival without hometown legends Cirith Ungol in the house. At Frost and Fire V, Cirith Ungol headlined the final night of the festival with a monstrous performance that marked their first local appearance in almost 7 years. This week we bring you extensive audio from that gig, as well as Jarvis and Armand's impressions, from an anniversary celebration to pedal issues to the unexpected (but not unwelcome) appearance of a former member in the room.

Become a subscriber today at nightdemon.net/subscriber. This week, subscribers have access to the bonus content below:

• Streaming Audio: Cirith Ungol Full Show - Frost and Fire V: October 24, 2025

LINKS

Cirith Ungol 'Live at the Roxy' - Live at the Roxy | Cirith Ungol

San Diego Metal Swap Meet - Metal Swap Meet - SAN DIEGO METAL SWAP MEET

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Listen at nightdemon.net/podcast or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

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This week, we continue our coverage of the historic Frost and Fire V festival in Ventura, California. We pick up the tale with a couple of interviews with Frost and Fire veterans, giving their impressions of the Festival and explaining its history and importance to this community and to all of us. The remainder of the episode is dedicated to Chicago masters High Spirits. You will hear why it was crucial for Night Demon to book them and why the band was so excited to return. You will also hear extensive audio clips from the gig itself, including massive positive energy and crowd singalongs for miles. Their magic is real.

LINKS

High Spirits - Music | High Spirits

High Spirits "Nights in Black" - Nights in Black | High Spirits

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This week, we continue our comprehensive coverage of the Frost and Fire V Festival in Ventura, California in October 2025. We resume the narrative on Day 2 with a trio of bands: Intranced, Blind Illusion and Early Moods. For each act, you will hear snippets of their studio output, live audio from the festival, and the impressions and reactions of the Night Demon guys. Listen in to hear about all the highs, the lows, the euphoria, and the snafus.

LINKS

Intranced "Switchblade" - Switchblade

Blind Illusion "Straight as the Crowbar Flies" -Blind Illusion - Straight as the Crowbar Flies - Official Video 2021

Early Moods -  Music | Early Moods

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