Demon Hunter-True Defiance

Demon Hunter’s eponymous debut came out nearly ten years ago and this is significant simply because, at that time, the band was little more than a part time endeavor for the Clark brothers. Don and Ryan, formerly of the hardcore band Training for Utopia, had assembled a bunch of songs, put them together with some expert packaging, gotten a label involved and released it. I don’t think they expected the band to take on the type of life that it has, and despite not being a full time band ever in it’s history, Demon Hunter are one of the more recognized bands in the modern Christian metal scene.

All this is necessary to frame the space where True Defiance, the band’s sixth full-length, comes in. The aesthetic quality of Demon Hunter has changed immensely since their first appearance and True Defiance is another shift in the sonic qualities that the band engage in. The framework for the songs is still roughly the same as it was when they started; heavy parts mixed with melodic parts. Screamed/sung vocals meld together and the band are equally as comfortable presenting a ballad or a full force bruiser. It’s this last type of song that is much more prevalent on True Defiance.

Beginning with the auditory kick in the jaw of “Crucifix” and “God Forsaken” it’s clear that Demon Hunter want to make it clear they are a metal band. The songs are significantly influenced by Swedish melo-death, which in 2012 could be passe, but the songs sound energized and immediate, with some fantatic solo work. The solo work for the album is pretty top-notch throughout. While never being, say, Revocation distinct, it’s a great element that is never overused and always feels like it comes in at the appropriate elements.

The band play with their love of groove-metal on songs like, “Wake” and “This I Know” which wouldn’t surprise anyone who has listened to Demon Hunter for the past ten years, but it feels more impacting this time around. The band get ballad-y with “Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Dead Flowers.” “Tomorrow Never Comes” is particularly interesting as it feels very anthemic with some great lead work. It’s probably the best ballad type song the band has written and when compared to the much more standard and uninteresting ”Dead Flowers” it really stands up as a great example of the band’s versatility.

True Defiance comes at just the right time for Demon Hunter and ups the quality of the songs far above the lackluster The World is a Thorn. True Defiance feels focused and purposeful, and while it was meant by the band to be listened to in stark contrast to what is popular in the metal world now, one can’t help but feel that there are still parts that are too, mid-2000′s ish. It’s not an innovative sound, but more of a refinement for the band and a good one at that. Ultimately, I don’t know if this will change anyone’s mind who has been apprehensive to Demon Hunter until this point, but as far as a solid metal album goes, True Defiance serves it’s purpose and does it well. It’s good to hear Demon Hunter being fun and engaging again, and that’s what this album does best. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a move in the right direction. Next step; write something that will really challenge the musical sensibilities of the time.

-Dan