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 headbanging 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.
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