I've listened to the album a few times since yesterday and it's a grower. Diabolic and Wolves in Winter are the more immediate songs. I always hope for a bunch of faster songs with galloping riffs and have to get over my initial feelings when those songs aren't there. That's not to say that the songs aren't heavy, they're just not always fast-paced burners like we get on the first album.
There is a ton to absorb still - Hansi is phenominal. Some songs like New Dawn have him singing phrases a lot rougher than his usual layered, majestic choirs. His voice is just so damn good no matter what he sings.
Musically, it's pretty much on par with recent Iced Earth albums, though there are a few acoustic based songs, which Jon seems to reserve for these Demons albums. Many of them feel like Raven Wing from Incorruptible - a clean intro, with mid-tempo heavy sections that are catchy and just groove along. In one recent interview that I saw, Jon was explaining how he wrote that song in one night and it came to be the most popular song on the album. So maybe he's trying to emulate that type of song a bit more since it was so popular. Split has some really fast riffing in sections, but it doesn't keep the afterburners on throughout the song, though it feels a bit more like the darker Iced Earth of old (some of the riffing is reminiscent of stuff on Burnt Offerings).
Overall, I think it's a great record and I find more to like with each listen The first album is absolutely magical for me and I've recently enjoyed the second a lot more than I had in years past. This one feels like it fits right in.
Initial favorites: Diabolic, Wolves in Winter, New Dawn (I CLEANSE IT WITH FIIIIIRE
), Split, Children of Cain