Album Reviews
Demon Hunter
The World Is a Thorn
(before listening to the whole CD)
WOW first to write a reveiw about thier new album "the world is a thorn"
what can i say anybody who love metal would LOVE these guys i mean the song "the world is a thorn" is just a bang your head, flat out rocks, heavy metal song that even non christians love. (i knw some that do).
the song "Tie this around your neck" i an awsome song i think 0.99999999999999 as close as "The world is a thorn" but preety darn close it uses melodies with heavy metal in the mix
collapsing i really dont know muc about but i hear its a great sng and cannot wait to hear the full version when i get the CD and i would recomend it to anybody who loves metal and anybody who doesnt cause they are a that will grab you hang on and NEVER let go and just keeps on pulling you in (its happening to me right now)
ROCK ON DEMON HUNTER...I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU GOT COMING NEXT
My experience with Demon Hunter - The World is a Thorn.
Have you ever been eating something really good and you noticed how your chewing slowed down and you started to savor every bite? Or have you ever seen a great movie, time seemed to slow down, and you soaked up every minute of it? That's how Demon Hunter - The World is a Thorn affected me.
Pros:
-Beautiful melodies
-Every track is very strong (tremendous separation and variety in each song)
-The whole album flows together.
-Smooth sound--sounds excellent at higher volumes (recommended).
Cons:
-none
In Summary,
IMO, this is the best Demon Hunter album so far.
Recommended songs to request to see if you'll like it:
-Collapsing
-The World is a Thorn
-Descending Upon Us
Demon Hunter "The World is a Thorn"
has finally arrived..
does it live up to the hype?
has the absence of Don Clark
and Ethan changed the band?
The answer to the first question
depends on who you are asking,
I've been a Demon Hunter fan since
I heard "Not Ready to Die"
and needless to say they are probably,
no wait scratch that, They ARE
my favorite heavy metal band
so I may be a little "bias".
So do I think the new album is worth it?
abso-Freakin-lutely!
The bands sound has changed, which that tends
to happen when you replace the lead guitarist,
and Demon Hunter has replaced both guitarists in
the band, with Patrick Judge now taking lead
and Ryan Helm(of The Ascendicate) taking rhythm.
Don't get me wrong you still hear that classic
Demon Hunter sound you know and love, but
I believe the Guitars have been greatly improved..
Patrick Judge brings a thrash metal "Pantera like"
sound to the band, which I totally welcome with open arms.
and what about the drums you ask? come on...it's Yogi..
and there are some great songs where Yogi is allowed to
shine, and the bass remains the same with Jonathan Dunn
aswell as obviously the vocals with Ryan Clark.
The album opens up with "Descending Upon Us"
where we are treated with a beautiful Guitar solo
and Yogi banging away on drums. Now I am going
to be a little nit picky here, because I don't want to be
overly bias, but I don't find the song to be a great
opening song for the album. Don't get me wrong..
I think it's a good song and I love the lyrics and everything,
I just think it feels out of place as the opening song..
If that makes any sense whatsoever.
Like for example with their last album(Storm the Gates of Hell)
the opening song was Storm the Gates of Hell and
it was powerful in your face and pulled you in
letting you know exactly what you were in for with the album.
Even before that with "Triptych" the true opening song was
"Not I" and that did the same thing and even farther back
with "Summer of Darkness" the opening song was
"Not Ready to Die" see the theme here? they opened
with amazing songs for their records, and while
"Descending upon Us" is a good song....
It isn't good enough to open the album,
and really there is a couple other songs I would
have went with as the opening to get people pumped.
That is one of my gripes, and really isn't that big of
a deal. The next song is called "LifeWar" and
it is totally a song that could of started the album off...
Patrick Judge shines here and this is really where you
can hear that "Pantera like" thrash metal sound in
the guitar. I really love this song and to be honest
might be my favorite except I really can't decide on
my favorite off this album yet(Seriously)
The third song is called "Collapsing" and it
is the first single off the album it has that
"Tide begins to Rise"/"Fading Away"
Demon Hunter feel to it. Ryan is joined
by Bjorn "Speed" Strid as guest vocalist
and really I don't have much to say about the song...
It's really one of those songs that has become
a niche for Demon Hunter....I love it.
"No Vow of silence...No remission of truth!"
Next song is called "This is the line"
a powerful anthem of a song as much
as "Follow The Wolves" was on the last album.
Lyrically and musically this song is amazing
and this is a song where it just feels like everyone
is stepping it up, everyone just seems to be clicking...
Yogi is dominating the drums(A song where he shines)
Ryan with his lyrics and vocals step it up ect ect...
EVERYONE shines here...no joke, and to me
this is yet another song which could of and maybe should
have been the opening song. The song is about defining a
line, what's right and what's wrong, good/evil and choosing
a side realizing there is NO middle.
"Scum of the Earth (power of Air)
you wanted the world? we'll bury you there!
This is a battle
we are the blade
and this is the line
all that they build
we will break
this is the line!"
The fifth song is called "Driving Nails"
showing the softer side to Demon Hunter, a song
much like "Heart strings" or "Carry me Down"
or better yet as Ryan himself compared it to
a beautiful, yet very sad song, "My throat is an open Grave"
from their first album. When I first heard the song I took
it as the battling of yourself, battling of the enemy we
face inside(our sins and fleshly desires) wanting to pull
us down and keep us forever in our own torment, which
is essentially how Ryan Clark explained the song himself.
"Something else inside....is driving nails into my soul,
(and) angels from my door. Something inside....."
The sixth song is called "The World is a thorn"
yet another song that should of... could of been
the song to kick off the album. The World is
a Thorn is fast hard, and yes thats right
in your face! it pulls you(or at least me in)
just as much as "Storm the Gates of Hell" did.
It's one of those hard head-banging songs you expect
a Demon Hunter album to be full with.
Gotta love the lyrics aswell..
"See the world in its grave, at the hands
of the enslaved!
Wont bow to man!
Wont bow to Government!
(won't trust in a failed system of self-
fulfilling lust!)
Won't love a world where my God is MOCKED!
I DEFY!"
Next Demon Hunter keeps hitting with
"Tie this around your Neck"
a song that you just want to "Scream along with"
another song where Yogi shines!
I also love the opening lyrics..
"This is the age of the dead!
the generation of pagan and self-led!
you can hear the bones shatter beneath our feet
the blood of lust staining our teeth.
WE FEED ON pain,disorder,delusion
(the filth of the modern plague)
and in this reign of Godlessness, the heathens will say:
TIE THIS AROUND YOUR NECK!"
Flowing right along with that hard hitting flow
comes "Just Breathe" which features Christian Alvestam
on guest vocals. At first listen I wasn't really feeling
the song, it feels like it has a bunch of different sounds
mixed together...like it's thrashy in some spots and then
death metal in others and maybe a hint of swedish death metal
and maybe thats just because of Christian Alvestam.
Anyways I love the combination in this song...
and I really like the small roll Christian had in the
song, I dunno the whole beat and groove of the
song has really grown on me.
Next we got "Shallow Water" coming in at nine,
I absolutely love the guitar work in this song,
and I think this is really the song that highlights Yogi
Watts and his awesome gift. Then of course we got the
lyrics, and really I want to give Ryan Clark props..
I was a little worried that lyrically this album might not
be as good, specially since Ryan lost his writing partner.
To be honest I think this record really shines lyrically
on pare with what Demon Hunter has done in the past
if not better.
I haven't heard Ryan explain the meaning behind
"Shallow Water" but listening to it my grasp on it,
it sounds like Ryan is talking about Christians
who don't want to step out in their Faith...
They don't put their full trust in God and choose
to remain in "Shallow Water" because if they
fall they wont sink to "Deep" thats what I get out of it
anyways.
"SEE NOW: every scar is a choice you make,
every choice is a vow you take. Take pity upon your fate.
YOU COWARD!
Sleepwalk through Heaven's call- No forest for the trees
unlearn every step you take- it'll bring you to your knees.
Tread shallow water- safe from the weight, the burden of sacrifice.
sons and daughters-pray fro the rain(May it redeem their eyes)
and now we have seen what complacency brings!
as the blind are assuming the LEAD!"
Now comes the tenth song called "Feel as though you Could"
featuring Dave Peters on guest vocals. This for me is
the weakest song on the album, I am really not feeling
the song whatsoever...nothing really stands out as a bright
spot on this song to me. Infact for those who have the
"Deluxe edition" you know there is a extra song called "Desire
the pain" I actually like that song, and I feel they should
of just left out "Feel as though you could" and gave everyone
"Desire the pain".
The final song on the album is "Blood in the tears"
a song very much like "Carry me down" from last album.
Catchy chorus...beautiful/sad melody once again
it's Demon Hunter that you know and love.
So in closing you can see the only song that turned me off
was "Feel as though you Could" and the fact
that the album didn't exactly pull you in with the first song.
However there is a lot, and I mean a lot to love about this album..
and with just the whole flow the album seems to have after the first
song, and how Patrick has brought a new vibe to the band...
I'm really feeling the new yet at the same time old style.
Demon Hunter knows how to make an album, and they
haven't disappointed me yet, and they sure the hell
didn't star now...
If you are Demon Hunter fan I'm sure you already
have this, and it is totally worth a buy. If you are not,
I still suggest you check the new stuff out,
because I have a feeling there's going to be
a bran new crop of Demon Hunter fans with this
record alone.
The new record, titled The World Is A Thorn, from the start promised to deliver exactly what every Demon Hunter fan hoped for. While dominating the Christian Metal industry, Demon Hunter has also become quite successful among the secular market as well. The record was released into stores on March 9, 2010, and guaranteed from the start to deliver: “heavier, yet more melodic” as stated by Demon Hunter’s very own vocalist Ryan Clark.
To start the album, the band chose to remain with the classic Demon Hunter sound of heavy guitar riffs, pounding screams, and violent drums with “Descending Upon Us.” The track starts out softly, only to lead into a heavy step upward into Ryan belting out a thunderous yell. This track does everything but disappoint, and includes the melodic choruses and brutal verses we expect from Demon Hunter. With the addition of new lead guitarist, Patrick Judge, comes a new bone chilling influence on the band, as heard throughout this opener, with high pitched shrieks backed by the riffing rhythm guitars.
Following the opening song is “LifeWar,” which is a song about internal conflict throughout one’s life, each line of the verse explaining five year increments of this person’s life. This track falls just short of two minutes long, making it the shortest song on the record. This is mildly disappointing because of the catchy, stomping, marching sound put into the song could have been much more had it been a full length track, but overall a good addition to the Demon Hunter catalog.
The first single and third track from The World is a Thorn titled “Collapsing,” is most likely the strongest of the new album. Including classic Demon Hunter elements of heavy guitars, with soft but passionate vocals, it is easy to see why this is the first single, and the only song with a music video to this point. The track never ceases to amaze with the aggressive guitars and drums laying down a rhythm for an excellent solo to follow the spoken-word bridge.
With the after-taste of “Collapsing” still fresh, “This Is The Line” proceeds to carry on the melodic core Demon Hunter was founded on. Starting with a slow distorted guitar intro, the song leads into the drums and soon after the vocals thrashing their way into the song. The message of the song is to differentiate what the world wants you to do from what is right, and the ‘line’ is a line drawn in the sand, and you have to choose which side you want to be on. The strong and bold message demonstrates exactly what Demon Hunter is known for, with harsh screams and outstanding lyrics.
To bring back the age-old tradition of the ballad, Demon Hunter goes with their fifth track titled “Driving Nails.” Among the four of five ballads to date, “Driving Nails” has to be one of the best. This song is very well written; with a backing string section and Ryan Clark’s incredibly versatile voice, it all comes together to create one beautiful track for the catalog. To refer to previous albums, this song includes more themes from hits like “My Heartstrings Come Undone” and “Infected.” “Driving Nails” brings a dark, very enjoyable, sound back to life once again.
No ballad should ever go unanswered by the power of metal, and Demon Hunter enforces this rule with the title track “The World Is A Thorn.” In this song, the band includes many familiar thrash elements seen from influential bands from the nineties. Again, Ryan Clark expresses his bold and provocative lyrics by screaming full force about how he “Won’t bow to man! Won’t bow to government!” This track is fairly short, ending at about two and a half minutes, but in no way disappoints due to the song’s absolute brutality.
“Tie This Around Your Neck” is a song about how people will try to get you to join them in their activities, no matter how morally wrong. They want you to follow in their footsteps, and tie the burden around your neck and suffer the consequences with them. Demon Hunter, and vocalist Ryan Clark, are never afraid to criticize the world for its tactics to bring you down, and will eternally warn you of the dangers it presents.
Demon Hunter has done it again; they have set a precedent for all future releases from any metal band, and pleased listeners undeniably. The World Is A Thorn may or may not be the fan favorite for The Blessed Resistance, but it will definitely make a wonderful addition to their collection.
