The Answer are a refreshing throwback to the early days of heavy metal, when bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Black Sabbath were making ears bleed with their wailing guitars, pounding drums and screaming vocals.  “Everyday Demons,” the band’s second release, is the best thing this talented outfit that hails from Northern Ireland has done to date.  People have taken notice, as the Answer landed a plum opening spot on the current AC/DC tour.

The undisputed star of the Answer is guitar/founder Paul Mahon, who apparently hasn’t met a riff he couldn’t master.  And it’s abundantly clear after just one spin that Mahon and his mates clearly have a passion for this type of music, and they do it justice via a series of keepers that include the remarkable set opener “Demon Eyes,” “Why’d You Change Your Mind,” Dead of the Night” and “Walkin’ Man.”

One quibble is vocalist Cormac Neeson.  He’s not terrible – especially when he refrains from shooting for the Ozzy- or Robert Plant-like high notes – but he needs to step up his game to match the rest of this talented band. (Jeffrey Sisk)