Artist: Demon Hunter
Genre: Metal
Label: Solid State
Release Date: March 9th, 2010
It seems like every metal release today is buffered with “hardest album we’ve ever done” or “we really went melodic with this album.” I have begun to wonder if every metal band convened in a room somewhere and took an oath that requires them to say one of those two phrases when discussing their new artistic endeavor or await the consequences.
Demon Hunter decided, just to be safe, to use both to describe the veteran metal band’s newest release, The World is a Thorn.
In a press release by Solid State, the band’s record label, lead singer Ryan Clark described the album as “our heaviest, but also our most melodic.”
My first reaction to the quote describing the band’s highly anticipated fifth studio release was to ask if that was even possible. How can it be the heaviest album in your career, but yet the most melodic. Metal band’s can’t do both, can they?
To say I was skeptical was an understatement. And my skepticism was justified on the first couple listens. Clark is right to say that the album is one of the heaviest releases by the band, but I disagree with the melodic part of his critique. The melodic sound is present, but it was much more prevalent on the band’s last release, Storm the Gates of Hell. Rather, The World is a Thorn instead pushes the heavy side into the spotlight and, thankfully, it steals the show.
The opening track, titled “Descending Upon Us,” starts with a soaring guitar solo, showing that the band is far from ditching melody, but soon chugging guitar riffs and rapid fire drum beats take over. Clark’s vocals kick in with ruff, growling texture which leads into a clean, melodic chorus. When it comes to the rough/clean vocals style, Clark is second to none and he continues to show just that on this release. The lead single off the album, “Collapsing,” and “Desire the Pain” follow the same structure.
For long time fans the pattern won’t come as a surprise. The band has more or less adopted this as their core sound as early as their second album, Summer of Darkness, and fully grasping it on their third album, The Triptych. The majority of the tracks on this album continue that same style, but the band is very good at making the sound different enough to fend of any monotony that may be ready to set in.
And this is where the emphasis on heaviness makes a big difference. The band seemed to have made a big effort to make the verses heavier sounding while keeping the strong melodic choruses that made Storm the Gates stand out. Songs like “Tie This Around Your Neck” is more aggressive by bombarding the listener with pure, heavy metal riffs, but buffers it with a more melodic chorus. The same can be said for “This is the Line” (the album’s anthem that shows Clark’s vocal range) and “Shallow Water” as each track is more in-your-face than anything off the previous album.
Then there are the songs that truly make this album harder than the bands last release. “Life War” is a great track that has no melodic chorus, but rather has bits of melodic guitar work that accompanies the war-like beat of the guitars and drums. “The World is a Thorn” is pure thrash metal and is one of the best songs on the album. It’s fast, dark and unapologetic thrash that will become a favorite of any metal fan. “Feel as Though You Could” (featuring Dave Peters of Throwdown fame) and “Just Breathe” (featuring Christian Alvestam of Solution .45 providing brutal, gutteral vocals) continue to keep Clark’s claim of “our heaviest” a true statement.
If there is one complaint I have on the album is my disappointments in the ballads. Demon Hunter’s ballads are some, if not the best, in Christian metal and arguably serves as highlights on each album. But the two ballads, “Driving Nails” and “Blood in the Tears,” are not as strong as their past efforts. They are not bad, they are still very solid ballads, but they didn’t hit me as hard as Summer of Darkness’ “My Heartstrings Come Undone” or The Triptych’s “One Thousand Apologies.” They are solid, just not as memorable.
The World is a Thorn is one Demon Hunter’s best albums yet as they continue to pepper fans with rapid fire metal goodness. Even with the departure of Don Clark (longtime lead and rhythm guitarist and Ryan’s brother) the additions of Patrick Judge (lead/rhythm; The Becoming) and Ryan Helm (rhythm; The Ascendicate) doesn’t cause the band to skip a beat as both fit seamlessly into the band. Along with Timothy “Yogi” Watts’ unbelievable drumming, Demon Hunter has put together a 12-song album that will please both long time fans and make a lot of new ones.
Final Verdict: 4/5
Download This: “Collapsing”; “Just Breathe”; “This is the Line”; “Blood in Tears”
No comments:
Post a Comment