Artist: Demon Hunter
Album: True Defiance
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Label: Solid State Records

Chances are, if you're reading this, you've most likely heard of Demon Hunter. In fact, if you've been into any type of Christian rock music over the past ten years, the band should ring a bell, as one of today's iconic, pioneering metal bands, led by frontman Ryan Clark, with his vicious screams and haunting, melancholy clean vocals. Now, two years after the release of the band's explosive album The World Is A Thorn comes True Defiance, the sixth studio album in the band's momentous ten year career. Following up such a quality album, I was a bit nervous of what to expect with True Defiance, and after my first listen, my general thoughts were a little underwhelming.

Quite honestly, if you were a big fan of The World Is A Thorn, True Defiance will be a hit or miss, or perhaps a grower. The album takes the classic Demon Hunter sound, along with quite a bit of heavy production, and adds in a bit more of a modern metal edge, with some riffs that hint at a quasi-djent influence and chuggs that any metalhead will love. That's not to say that this is a bad thing, as True Defiance is a solid album, with a collection of songs that certainly don't all stick with the same formula. Take the opener "Crucifix" for example; a distorted intro leads into an overall heavy song that is certainly worthy of the repeat button on your iPod, full of good grooves and bridge of a breakdown layered with a guitar solo of typical DH-fare. The subtle djent-influence (which seems to be popping up all over the metal scene these days) peers its head on "God Forsaken," which is also marked by a clean cut of melody by Clark's vocals and a solo, which while of good fashion, feels a bit odd with a clean, bluesy feel in the middle of all the heaviness.

"My Destiny" and "Someone to Hate" both abound in a thrashier sound, with a few experimental elements, such as a higher screams used on the former, and an off-time signature utilized on the structuring of "Someone to Hate." True Defiance's ballads also seem to follow the classic Demon Hunter formula, with Clark's haunting vocals adding a melodramatic feel to the mix, especially in "Dead Flowers," which also implements some synthy-keys, an '80s influenced solo, and a rather climatic chorus (bringing to mind the band's Christmas single "The Wind"). Another rather interesting ballad, only included on the deluxe edition, is "I Am A Stone," which finds Ryan Clark only backed by an orchestra, an interesting pairing which really draws attention to the vocals, which really hold their ground throughout the song, a strong performance.

Despite it's strong points, True Defiance does falter at times. Some of the songs do blend together, notably towards the end of the album, before "Dead Flowers," not showing as much creativity, as the sporadic songs of The World Is Not A Thorn. Another thing to mention is that, at times, the album feels overproduced, with backing programmed effects that, while not consistent, are distracting and unnecessary.

Overall: Demon Hunter's plunge back into the scene, True Defiance, is certainly solid, but not perfect. The album has its moments of greatness, like the heavy grooves of "Crucifix" and haunting balladry of "Dead Flowers," but are also contrasted with lackluster sections as well, such as (inconsistent) overproduction and a few songs that really don't make as much of a lasting effect as hoped for. Lyrically, True Defiance continues the themes of defying (no pun intended) the ways of this world, and standing up for what you believe. If you enjoy Demon Hunter, or any modern metal (less core), you will probably find something to like on this album, but those who particularly liked the raw-sounding direction of The World Is A Thorn may find something lacking this time around.

Rating: 7.5/10

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

1. Crucifix
2. God Forsaken
3. My Destiny
4. Wake
5. Tomorrow Never Comes
6. Someone to Hate
7. This I Know
8. Means To An End
9. We Don't Care
10. Resistance
11. Dead Flowers
12. What Is Left (deluxe only)
13. I Am A Stone (deluxe only)

(Buy Here)

The highly anticipated, annual Christian metal and hardcore powerhouse tour, Scream The Prayer, has been announced for 2012. The tour with be headlined by Demon Hunter (on select dates), along with Emery, Sleeping Giant, Mychildren Mybride, Close Your Eyes, Hundredth, The Great Commission, Gideon, A Bullet For Pretty Boy, and Your Memorial. The current dates can be viewed below, and more are in the process of being announced. For more info on Scream The Prayer 2012, visit the tour's Facebook page.

06/22/12 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
06/23/12 - Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
06/24/12 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theatre
06/26/12 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
06/27/12 - Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
06/28/12 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
06/30/12 - Dayton, OH @ The Attic Club
07/01/12 - Joliet, IL @ Mojoe's

Solid State Records is pleased to announce the release of metal mainstays DEMON HUNTER's sixth full-length album, True Defiance, in stores everywhere April 10.


Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Emery) and mixed by Jason Suecoff (All That Remains, Trivium), True Defiance finds DEMON HUNTER continuing in their hard rock evolution while embracing the components that have always formed the backbone of their music: true metal, dark rock and balladry.


"This record is without a doubt our most aggressive," says vocalist and band co-founder Ryan Clark. "Every DEMON HUNTER record must be a step up from the last. I know that's a goal for every band, but it seldom works that way - especially today, especially in metal. It seems like most bands' prime years are long behind them. I refuse to let that be the case for us."


On True Defiance, Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Clark, Tim "Yogi" Watts (drums), Jonathan Dunn (bass) and Patrick Judge (lead guitar) are joined by their longtime friend Jeremiah Scott (guitar), whose credits as a metal musician (The Showdown) and producer (Living Sacrifice) are well established. The partnership marks a vital new chapter in the celebrated history of DEMON HUNTER, who are currently marking their 10th year of writing, breaking and erasing the rules of hard rock. Not ones to rest on their laurels, however, the members have created an album that not only lives up to their own lofty standards, but sets a new high-water mark for what DH is capable of.


"We've been extremely underwhelmed with metal for the last five years or so, and that's been the fuel to create this record," Clark explains. "With an extreme over-saturation of false, fleeting, trend-hopping noise in today's metal scene, we had to make something we've been longing to hear. Something truly meaningful and artistic. Something our fans would love and something that will turn the heads of those who have ignored us for the past decade."


True Defiance marks DEMON HUNTER's first outing since 2010's The World Is A Thorn, which debuted in the Billboard Top 40 and was hailed as the heaviest, fastest, and most aggressive record of the band's career. The album yielded hit videos in "Collapsing," which has racked up 1 million views online, and "LifeWar," which was viewed over 100,000 times in the past month. The World is a Thorn was preceded by Storm the Gates of Hell (2007), The Triptych (2005), Summer of Darkness (2004) Demon Hunter (2002), and the three-disc CD / DVD set 45 Days, which collectively sold half a million copies and garnered airplay on college and specialty radio, Fuse and MTV2's Headbangers Ball and earned the band cover features in publications like Revolver and HM.


True Defiance Track List: 
1. Crucifix
2. God Forsaken
3. My Destiny
4. Wake
5. Tomorrow Never Comes
6. Someone To Hate
7. This I Know
8. Means To An End
9. We Don't Care
10. Resistance
11. Dead Flowers

Upcoming Dates:
April 17 - Seattle WA @ El Corazon
April 30 - Kouvola, Finland @ Vappugospel
June 29 - Shirleysburg PA @ Creationfest Northeast