ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT (EPK)
BIOGRAPHY
Goth/prog misfits playing to banish devilish woes, seasoned rock 'n' roll troubadours of an occult medicine show, Ditch the Demon are all this and more. Born in 2019 from the faded Victorian glamour of Hastings (East Sussex), the band is on a mission to reclaim the 1970s heavy-rock sound, assimilating prog, psych, art rock and the gothic. Where else can you hear songs of life, death, spiritual awakenings, angels, demons, love and lust all in one show?
Ditch the Demon's sound is driven by the soaring, haunting vocals of Amanda Brooks-Byron and seasoned musicianship of Terry Keen (keyboards), Steph Bennion (bass, backing vocals) and Neil Warman (drums). Together they perform a shape-shifting set of exceptional and inventive self-penned songs. Karl Mee (guitar) appears on all recordings to date.
"...East Sussex's answer to Blood Ceremony, and full-length debut 'Ain't Dead Yet' is a hugely enjoyable mix of psych, prog and garage goth. Brooks-Byron surely spent her teenage nights before a mirror miming to Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux and Coven's Jinx Dawson..."
(Grant Moon, Prog Magazine, issue 150)
Influences driving the band's music are diverse. The spiritual roots of Ditch the Demon can be traced to seminal band Coven, whose 1974 album “Blood on the Snow” inspired the band to forge their own contemporary alt-metal/gothic twist on classic psych rock.
"One Kiss", Ditch the Demon's new single from the band's forthcoming second studio album HAIL THE FALLEN (out Autumn 2026), is available on streaming services and BandCamp now! Ditch the Demon released their first full-length studio album AIN'T DEAD YET in December 2023, a Christmas single in 2025 and their eponymous debut two-track EP in 2020.
Theatrical but without going over the top, the live shows of Ditch the Demon are captivating for their energy and tightness. A download-only live album, LIVE IN THE BIG BAD CITY, was released on BandCamp in August 2025. See Upcoming Gigs for forthcoming dates and previous gigs.
ALL QUERIES: Please use the Contact Form on the main page.
AIN'T DEAD YET (debut studio album)
Released: 1 December 2023
Digital distribution by Prozakville Records, catalogue no. PZVR 101
Twelve tracks of psych/goth/prog light 'n' shade... Recorded April and May 2023 at Broadoak Park Studios, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. Engineered by Glen Mitchel, Martyn Lee and Ditch the Demon.
Ain't Dead Yet was produced, mixed and mastered by Harvey Summers, an English composer, producer and sound engineer with over 30 years experience. Harvey has worked as a mastering engineer, mixer and remixer for artists such as Factory, Mumm-Ra and Steeleye Span on critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums.
Harvey also established Broadoak Park Studios, which features a mixing desk from Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, famously used by legendary rock artists such as David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Queen in the 1970s. Martyn 'Gripper' Lee took the helm of Broadoak in 2023.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Prog Magazine: Tracks of the Week - "One Kiss" (5 June 2026)
"Hastings psych/prog rockers Ditch The Demon have shared their first new music from their upcoming second album, Hail The Fallen, which will be out in September, with a video for 'One Kiss'. The band have been called "East Sussex's answer to Blood Ceremony," by Prog Magazine's Grant Moon, no less, and draw inspiration from bands such as seminal US psych rockers Coven, which is cool with us!
"'This new track leans upon sultry blues while still encapsulating the band’s signature heavy goth/prog sound,' the band say. 'The video was filmed in the band’s home town of Hastings with help from prog super-fan Mike Burgess.'"
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Progressive Voyages: Ditch the Demon live in Chatham, Kent (February 2026)
"What happens when you discover a band that just refuse to fall into any one category? Why, you enjoy their music, gorge on their discography, and go see them. Live as many times as humanly possible. This happens with Ditch The Demon, a firecracker of a band that have absorbed Metal, psyche-Rock, Goth, Prog, Classic Rock and even Musicals/Music Hall to create their own unique sound...
"...Ditch the Demon, in their first gig of the year, stirred a blistering set tonight. Short as it was, due to the event being a multi artist mini-fest, it was delivered with machine gun aplomb, no chat, just song after wonderful song, to work the crowd into a frenzy. And they did. A polished, superbly professional performance. Do not miss this band! Festivals, be very aware of Ditch The Demon, they are going places, fast. Add a Demonic flare to your line-ups, audiences love ‘em!" - Mike Burgess, Progressive Voyages
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"...Big stage show sort of thing that you'd get in the West End [...] the sound of Meatloaf rock 'n' roll, good fun..." - Dave Viner, Metal 2 The Masses Kent (February 2025).
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Prog Magazine, Issue 150: Grant Moon, "And Last But Not Least" (June 2024)
"...Discovery Of The Month has to be Amanda Brooks-Byron, the sensational front woman for Hastings' Ditch the Demon. They're East Sussex's answer to Blood Ceremony, and full-length debut 'Ain't Dead Yet' is a hugely enjoyable mix of psych, prog and garage goth. Brooks-Byron surely spent her teenage nights before a mirror miming to Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux and Coven's Jinx Dawson. Like the band itself, she has range, power, character, and a cheeky glint in that (presumably) thickly mascara'd eye. Bet these guys are great live..."
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Metal Junkbox: Blog review of album track "Night Before the Storm" (April 2024)
"We will continue our journey through the musical world, this time we will fly to the most Heavy Metal island in the world, we are going to the United Kingdom!! We will present the band known as Ditch The Demon!!!
"With a lot of originality, weight, creativity and a great base of influences, among which I highlight Power metal, Melodic Metal and Prog Metal, the band uses and abuses its musical capacity and delivers heavy, intense songs, full of feeling and aggression! If you want to know a good band, I recommend you listen to Ditch The Demon!!
"'Night Before The Storm' is a song that starts in a very intense way, making it clear that the band spares no effort to deliver quality material. With an exquisite execution, the song develops increasingly and manages to cover a whole range of nuances that are part of the band's musical influences that deserve your attention! Check it out!!"
PROMO PHOTOS
Photo credits: Kark Kinss (Terry, Mandie & Steph) & Johnny Galliano (Neil) (1); Andy Jamieson (2); Johnny Galliano (3-7); Rob Looker (8). Higher-resolution images available upon request.
TECHNICAL RIDER
MANDIE (vocals)
Centre stage, front. Microphone and stand, monitor.
TERRY (keyboards)
Stage right, rear. DI box (mono), monitor.
STEPH (bass / backing vocals)
Stage left, front. Microphone and stand, bass amplifier, power outlet for effects pedals, monitor.
NEIL (drums)
Centre stage, rear. Standard right-handed kit, drum microphone set, monitor.
POSTER LOGOS
PROMOTERS: Please provide ticket website links as soon as possible so we can advertise the shows!