The World is a Thorn(Review)

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.

"Welcome to the Masquerade"-Review

What is there to say about Thousand Foot Krutch's new cd

"Welcome to the Masquerade"

except for...Amazing.

This is the fifth album from TFK, and they have

grown from one album to the next.

TFK from their first album "Set if off" brought something

into the Christian music scene that was lacking...

with their Rage against the machine feel, and

Trevor's wide range vocal talent they exploded on the scene.

Some may have thought,

they would just be a flash in the pan,

but with their second album "Phenomenon"

they proved they

were not just one hit wonders.

There is seriously

something to say about each record that TFK has..

each one could stand on there own, and each one

has it's own special appeal.

I personally became a fan back in 05 when I first heard

the song "Move" on the radio, from their third album

"The art of Breaking"

Their last album "The Flame in all of us" was

a great album. I mean you can't knock an album

that brings you songs like "The Flame in all of Us"

"Falls apart" "My own Enemy" "Learn to Breath"

"inhuman" and "Wish You Well"..personally

I thought how can TFK top this? I mean could they?

the answer to that question is a resounding YES

because "Welcome to the masquerade" is

TFK at it's best, it is, and no joke....the best

album Thousand Foot has ever made!

and thats saying a lot..

Want to know my knock on the album?

there's not enough songs! I want more!

thats a good thing when a band leaves you with wanting more.

Don't be fooled by the cd though, and when you look at it..

it says 13 tracks, because essentially the first "song"

"The Invitation" is just a 59 second intro going into the first song

"Welcome to the Masquerade".

TFK rocks you from start to finish with this album, and there is

not a single doubt in my mind that this is my favorite album of the year.

the first song itself "Welcome to the Masquerade" sucks you right in,

and is exactly how you want to start an album off, again I have nothing

else to say but AWESOME!

Think the next song is going to be soft right? a drop off at least?

no TFK keeps it rocking with "Fire it up". It's on the same level as

the first song, if not better. Then comes the third song..soft? a drop off?

NOPE! "Bring me to Life" is an awesome single...

(Yes I did just use the word awesome again)

I'm dead serious when I say the first four songs are just reason

enough to buy this album, wait the first four? Yes! and there is

so much more ahead! what is the fourth song you ask?

It's called "E For Extinction" as Trevor says in the song

"it's hard for me to explain..." I'm telling you it's hard for me

to explain to you just how freakin sweet this album is.

"E For Extinction" would be my favorite song on the album,

but to be honest.. it seems my favorite song on the album

changes daily, and that is just more proof how amazing

this whole album is.

So I've established the fact to you, or i've tried to get it across to you, that

the first four songs are reason enough for you to buy it.

What about the fifth song and so on? Well the fifth song is called

"Watching over me" and after four songs of rocking your face off..

TFK slows it down a little bit. Does that mean the song sucks?

not at all, its actually a good song.

I know what you're thinking... "uh oh..are all the rest of the songs soft?"

nope! TFK continues with the rocking with the sixth song

"The part that hurts the most(is me)" good little riff, and love the keyboard

at the beginning of the song, and the lyrics....as with every song are

top notch, and actually written by the band unlike (Cough) Skillet (Cough)

which is bonus points in my book. Since I brought up Skillet...

let me say, this album makes Skillets new album look more like a 1 out of 5,

no offense to "Skillet" or anything.

Now it's time for another soft song right? NOPE! another rocker (thats six,

if your counting) "Scream" with it's catchy lyrics, and lyrics we all

can relate to, is a song that fills you with hope and understanding

that we have all been through difficulties, and that we need to just

keep our heads up and continue living...fantastic and dare I say once again

AMAZING song? Oh I do..

Next comes "Look Away" which is a little softer, but is not a song

you should just glance over. Trevor shines once again...

just like he did last album with "Breathe you in" or "Wish you well"

"I will not look away this time

take all these cuts and make them shine

and all this pain i've held inside

so I can find my way home again

.

I will not look away this time

take all these cuts and make them shine

Don't wanna be perfect...just alright"

That Is the chorus, and it is not only on par with the songs I mentioned above,

but it just may be even better. Then comes the radio single "Forward Motion"

which sounds more like a FM Static song rather then TFK

( and yes I know Trevor is the writer/singer for both) it's the most

poppy/punk song on the album, and I'm not saying it's bad...as with

every song I've mentioned it's a great song aswell!

Now we only got three more songs on the album, and I've already told you

that the previous nine songs are all good! this doesn't happen very often

folks! usually you buy a cd, and what? maybe 3 songs tops are

even worth listening to more then 4-6 times? just with the nine songs

alone I would give this album a 5 out of 5, but hold your britches...

the next three songs don't suck!

"Outta Control" once again TFK comes guitars blaring and ready to rock,

and I don't know why but I get this "Korn" feel with the lyrics and

even parts of the songs with the instruments. I mean if you took out

the positive chorus, I could see Jonathan Davis singin this.

Not bad in my eyes, because I love Korn...

"It feels like a dream

How did things all get so crazy?

I'm remembering

before, when I felt so clean

Alone in my room

it feels like the walls are closing in

I'm thinking of you

cause I know what'll happen soon"

sounds a little Korny to me(and I mean Korn..Korny not corny co...nevermind lol)

just distort the guitars more and throw in JD's voice and you got a Korn single,

A good one at that. Enough about Korn though, because this is TFK..

and OUTTA Control is another great song on the album..plain and simple.

Now comes "Smackdown" which is another song that attempts to rock..

however if there was one song I had to choose that was "weak" on the album

this song would be it. It sounds more like it should be the theme to

Wwe Friday Night Smackdown then anything.. and it really doesn't

stand out to me as a great song. Don't get it twisted..it's not horrible

but compared to the rest of the album it is the weak link,

but again thats out of ten songs and you got one weak link

I'll take that any day of the week!

So what about the last song "Already Home" some more weak sauce maybe?

NOPE! TFK ends the album how it should be ended...leaving you

wanting more! "Already Home" is not going to rock your face off..

and thats because it's not trying to...it is a beautiful emotional song

crying out to God, and I have no problem saying it brought tears

to my eyes. I could probably personally listen to "Already home"

all day long...and I will easily be listening to this whole album

for months to come, because it's just not getting "Boring" for me..

in closing..if you don't have "Welcome to the Masquerade" by

Thousand Foot Krutch, what the hell is wrong with you? =)

5 out of 5

(by the way this is one album you don't want to buy

just a few songs from it off Itunes, you want the whole thing.

trust me)