Demons (Josiah Queen song)

"Demons"
Single by Josiah Queen
from the album Damascus Road
ReleasedJanuary 16, 2026 (2026-01-16)
Genre
Length3:10
Label
Songwriters
ProducerHowell
Josiah Queen singles chronology
"Jesus Is Coming Back Soon"
(2025)		 "Demons"
(2026)		 "Judas"
(2026)
Music video
"Demons" on YouTube

"Demons" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song recorded by the American Christian musician Josiah Queen. The song was released as a single on January 16, 2026, via Capitol Christian Music Group and F&L Music Group.[1][2][3] It was written by Queen, Dylan Thomas, John Michael Howell, and Zac Lawson, while Howell produced. The song topped the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming Queen's first leader atop the chart.[4]

Writing and development

Timothy Yap of Jubilee Cast observed of "Demons" that it "confronts fear with victory and invites listeners to stand firm in their faith," with lyrics "facing spiritual battles and inner fear."[5] Good Christian Music described it as "a bold anthem for anyone who’s ever felt haunted by fear, shame, or spiritual heaviness" which contained "cinematic production and poetic grit."[6] Queen explained the inspiration behind the song, saying:[7]

This song came from a real battle in my mind and the reminder that I don’t fight alone. When I prayed, God didn’t just hear me – He answered. It’s a declaration that fear and darkness don’t get the final word when your trust and hope is in Jesus.

"Demons" is composed in the key of D minor, with a speed of 127 beats per minute and a key signature of 4
4.[8] It demonstrates the styles of Contemporary Christian and AC/inspo.[1]

Music video

Upon release, a lyric video for "Demons" was uploaded to YouTube.[9] A music video, directed by Brady Pattee, was released on January 20, 2026.[10][11] The music video depicts Queen driving a pick-up truck. The vehicle breaks down, leaving Queen stranded. He builds a fire and performs the song on an acoustic guitar.[7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
New Release TodayStarStarStarStarStar

Critical

In a 5-out-of-5 star review for New Release Today, Josiah Scott praised the song's gradual build, noting that it "start[s] slow and gradually pick[s] up pace before being hit with a loud, richly textured chorus." He highlighted its quiet acoustic opening and later shift into a "wall of sound" production style that "explodes at the chorus." Scott also mentioned one moment he felt was "poorly structured," but described it as "only a minor error in the grand scheme of this song." He added that the track has "hit potential."[12]

Commercial

Before the song's commercial release, teasers for the song were released to social media. They had achieved more than 11 million views by the time of the release.[7] Within its first charting week, "Demons" peaked at No. 29 on the Recorded Music NZ's Hot Singles chart.[13] In the United States, the song debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, No. 4 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and No. 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[14][15][16] Supportively, the song appeared at No. 2 on the Christian Digital Song Sales and Rock Digital Song Sales charts, and No. 14 on the overall Digital Song Sales chart.[17][18][19] It also hit No. 3 on the Christian Streaming Songs chart.[20] The song debuted as biggest Christian chart debut of 2026.[21] It also became Queen's first entry into a secular international chart as a solo musician, and the highest chart debut of his career.[22]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dylan Thomas, John Michael Howell, Josiah Queen, and Zac Lawson.

Demons (Extended Single)[23]
No.TitleLength
1."Demons"3:10
2."Demons" (featuring Julia Poe)3:10
3."Demons" (featuring John Michael Howell)3:10
4."Demons" (featuring Reagan James Broome)3:10
5."Demons" (featuring Zac Lawson)3:10
Total length:15:50

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal Music.[24]

Charts

Chart performance for "Demons"
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Christian Airplay (TCM)[25] 7
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 29
UK Christian Airplay (Cross Rhythms)[26] 3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[16]4
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[27]14
US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[28]3
US Hot Christian Songs (Billboard)[15]1
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14]16

Certifications

Certifications for "Demons"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[29] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Demons"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various January 16, 2026
[30]
January 19, 2026 Christian radio [31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Christian Music Releases for January 16, 2026". New Release Tuesday. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Looking For New Music?". UMG. Capitol CMG. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Josiah Returns With 'demons' Video And Single". AntiMusic. January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Penuell, Russ (May 19, 2026). "Josiah Queen Commands Hot Christian Songs Chart for First Time With 'Demons'". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ Yap, Timothy (January 19, 2026). "Josiah Queen Drops New Single "Demons"". Jubilee Cast. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Josiah Queen "Demons" New Song Alert". Good Christian Music. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Josiah Queen Drops New Single, "Demons"". Jesus Freak Hideout. Capitol Christian Music Group. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "DEMONS - Josiah Queen Chords". Chordify. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ Josiah Queen - demons (Official Lyric Video) (video). Capitol CMG, F&L Music Group. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Josiah Queen - demons (Official Music Video) (video). Capitol CMG, F&L Music Group. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Josiah Queen Releases New Single, 'demons'". The Z. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ Scott, Josiah (January 21, 2026). "Demons (single) by Josiah Queen". New Release Today. Retrieved January 22, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. 1 2 "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Josiah Queen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Josiah Queen Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Josiah Queen Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Christian Digital Song Sales: Week of January 31, 2026". Christian Digital Song Sales. Billboard. January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Rock Digital Song Sales: Week of January 31, 2026". Rock Digital Song Sales. Billboard. January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Digital Song Sales: Week of January 31, 2026". Digital Song Sales. Billboard. January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Christian Streaming Songs: Week of January 31, 2026". Christian Streaming Songs. Billboard. January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  21. ↑ Bajalan, Clara (January 31, 2026). "Josiah Queen's Demons Breaks Streaming and Sales Charts". Jubilee Cast. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ Scott, Josiah (January 27, 2026). "Josiah Queen's "Demons" Makes Biggest Christian Chart Debut of 2026". CM Addict. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ↑ Demons / Josiah Queen. Capitol CMG and F&L Music Group. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026 – via Tidal Music.
  24. ↑ "Demons / Josiah Queen / Credits". Capitol CMG and F&L Music Group. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026 – via Tidal Music.
  25. ↑ "Good Morning!". Today's Christian Music. Woodlands Media. May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026 – via Facebook.
  26. ↑ "Cross Rhythms Top Ten: Week beginning 5 July 2026". Cross Rhythms. July 5, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Josiah Queen Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Josiah Queen Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ "American single certifications – Josiah Queen – Demons". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Demons (Single) by Josiah Queen". New Release Tuesday. Capitol CMG and F&L Music Group. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  31. ↑ "New Music Mondays January 19, 2026". Radio Update. January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
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