When it comes to modern metal most heavy music fans think of chunky breakdowns, guttural screaming, and relentless double bass punishing your ears. Headbanging, thrashing, punching, and screaming all at once. But as of March 18, with Demon Hunter’s newest release Extremist, the band has crafted perhaps a more serenading yet every bit as brutal type of metal. This one will tear right through you while helping you sleep better at night! Also, yes I have been a Demon Hunter fan for a long time so I am admittedly biased. Which is awesome!
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The first track on Extremist starts out with a haunting monk-like chanting and then immediately begins to shred your face off; simply titled “Death” Ryan Clark makes it very well known to us that he is not out to impress yet inevitably does; lyrics up to free interpretation of course! “Artificial Light’ is a beautifully heavy jam with great screaming, but here is where this serenading quality kicks in on the chorus. Now maybe it is strictly Clark’s voice, but the guitars match his tone so well that although I’m head banging I also want to kick back with an ale and just listen for pure enjoyment of the quality of the music that Demon Hunter has created. Don’t underestimate the heaviness of the tune, but Clark has really hit a unique stride in easing his voice off just enough to help metal heads get a better night sleep. Amazing song!
“What I’m Not” is definitely noteworthy because of its buttery smooth transition from fast metal to rock; making sure that every lucky fan who will see Demon Hunter live in the future will be belting this out at the top of their lungs while getting punched in the circle pit. On to “The Last One Alive” and it’s more rock/metal intensity, still so ear pleasing along with some mind bending apocalyptic imagery in the lyrics. The ballad that is “I Will Fail You” is definitely a more somber tune, but I soaked in every second of it’s brutal honesty and smooth guitar work. The lyrics to this one are the real art in this song and as you listen you will either agree, disagree or just face the fact that this kind of honesty is not too prevalent among many songwriters. As soon as you hear the solo that lead guitarist Patrick Judge effortlessly delivers it stands out; and again Clark’s clean voice on this one is at top quality. A great track altogether.
Perhaps the heaviest track is “Cross To Bear” in music and lyric. It’s fast, brutal, mean, and can keep pace with anything Demon Hunter’s contemporaries will create. “Not one of you bastards has a cross to bear” sounds so satisfying as Clark shouts it to chunks of riffage and fast double beats laid down by Demon Hunter’s great drummer Tim “Yogi” Watts. The last track “Heart of a Graveyard” swells into an awesome rock sound that will get your fist pumping and then the build through the verse is so catchy that it ends the album leaving a very sweet aftertaste like a maple brew and a juicy steak.
Amazing, melodic, brutal, and ripe with quality, this latest from one of Solid State Records veteran bands is a solid addition to any metal fans catalogue. Produced by Demon Hunet guitarist Jeremiah Scott and additional production by Aaron Sprinkle and mixed by Zeuss it’s a job very well done! They have given all listeners and fans a very solid album, perhaps Demon Hunter’s best yet. Quite a leap forward from their last album 2012’s True Defiance and introducing some welcome changes, Demon Hunter have killed it on this one!
Rating: 5/5