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Band: Demon Hunter
Title: The World Is A Thorn
Label: Solid State Records
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Review By: Steve
Track Listing:
1. Descending Upon Us
2. LifeWar
3. Collapsing
4. This Is the Line
5. Driving Nails
6. The World Is a Thorn
7. Tie This Around Your Neck
8. Just Breathe
9. Shallow Water
10. Feel As Though You Could
11. Blood in the Tears
One of the greatest things about Demon Hunter is that they have always had a unique sound. There are not a lot of bands out there that sound like them especially on the Christian side of the genre. They have found a niche and filled it quite nicely mixing the heavy and melodic.
I have been anxiously awaiting this album for a long time. I was a little worried that the departures of Ethan Luck and Don Clark and the stray from their roots in Storm The Gates Of Hell that this album might be a subpar release. All I can say that after listening to the entire album that I was completely wrong. This album is one of their most brutal albums ever yet pleasantly melodic.
I was surprised at how much the addition of Patrick Judge of The Showdown on lead guitar really improved the guitar work and gave the album a bit more technicality then on their previous albums. Patrick’s riffs and solos are a step up as well. Like always, Yogi tears the drums up and takes no prisoners. Vocally, I believe this is Ryan Clark’s best work. There may be other vocalists that are as good as he is but none are better. His screams and growls are second to none, and when he drops into the melodies it is a beautiful thing. When most metal vocalists try the clean vocals, they seem to try to go pop but Ryan on the other hand some how keeps that metal edge to his voice.
As far as the songs on the album, this is some of the best songs they have ever written. While the song structures are the same with the growls, runs, and clean and spoken vocals; these songs are a lot more intense and dark than most Demon Hunter fans will be used to. Some how Demon Hunter has always been able to keep it brutal even with the clean vocals and this album is no different. You can feel the intensity drip from your speakers. The first single from the album “Collapsing” is evidence of brutality meets melody. Like all Demon Hunter Albums, there is always at least one track that is a no holds barred brutal assault and at least one monster ballad. The title track “The World Is A Thorn” is one of the most brutal attacks that Demon Hunter has ever written that speaks out against our godless world. Then when it comes to monster ballads, Demon Hunter is the best. Remember how great “Infected,” “My Heartstrings Come Undone,” and “Carry Me Down” were? Well, “Driving Nails” may be better than all of them. If you happened to get the deluxe version of the album, you will also be impressed with the bonus string version of the song that is quite tasty.
One can only imagine how popular Demon Hunter would be if they could only tour more. We all know and understand the reasons they don’t tour more, but I guess I can still hope that one day their families might share them with the rest of us a little more.
Overall: Demon Hunter has returned to the scene with a fire in their belly! This album is more in the vein of their first few albums and is their best work to date. This album had a lot to live up to with the excellent release of label mates Living Sacrifice a few months prior, but Demon Hunter more than stepped up to the plate. This is an aggressive and melodic masterpiece. This album will definitely become a fan favorite.
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| 07/30/2010 09:48 pm | News
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Awake! Awake! 
Behind The Scenes of Ascend The Hills’ Hymns Record!
Meet Aaron Gillespie
Ted Bond of Craig’s Brother
Meet Mike & Jeremy of TDWP
Meet Joshua Paul of Confide
Wake Into The Nightmare
Meet Nick Nowell Of The Famine
An Interview With Stephen Christian (Anberlin) July 2010
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Lee Marie of Children 18:3
Meet Will Nutter of Amber Pacific
Meet Jarrod Christman of Corpus Christi
5 Questions with I, The Breather
The Letter Black
Ivoryline
Farewell From Chad Ackerman of DTR
Meet As Hell Retreats
The Homecoming
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Fit For A King
Definitely a good album. my only fault was with the ballad-type songs. to me, none of them were as good as songs like carry me down, or 1000 apologies. Both of them sounded pretty much the same to me. this album would have been almost perfect, but they just didn’t get the ballads right in my opinion.
In my humble opinion, 1000 Apologies is the best song Demon Hunter have ever written by a MILE.
Ditto. I think the ballads could’ve used a bit more work, but the album as a whole in top-notch. Really good stuff.
I agree with you Steve, this album rocks! I’ve never been much of a Demon Hunter fan considering I did only own their first album but this was a steal at Best Buy so I decided to give it a whirl and my is it impressive! The World Is A Torn is by far my favorite track of the bunch but from beginning to end this album to me has no fillers. I give it 9/10 as well.
It took me a while to like it but I like it more with each play. The World Is A Thorn is by far the best track on the album.
Heck yes, fully agreed on the title track.
this cd is EPIC. I LOVE EVERY SONG.
Had to toss this on my work out mix, lol.
I love this album. All of it. The string mix of Driving Nails is by far my favorite track on the album. Then it gets hard from there because I love everything else lol
Don’t forget that they have also Ryan Helm from The Ascendicate on guitar, which gives the band a completely revamped guitar section. This must have done something to the upgrade in sound on this record (much technical and heavier)
Ryan H. wasn’t in on the recording. I have an inside source that confirmed this. Although he will be an upgrade in the future.
Has the Ascendicate broken up? Don’t hear anything about them at all anymore.
I have no idea about The Ascendicate but would love to know if they will put another album out
I really like this album a lot! There are quite a few great songs on it, especially the title track! However, I still have quite a bit of love for their last album (STGOH), too! I can’t figure out why so many people dog that album, saying that it didnt sound like Demon Hunter?
I’ll probably give this a full listen at some point in the future but based on listening to all the songs in intervals, I didn’t like it at all. Some songs were alright but the intensity felt forced and the vocals sounded like they were really trying to experiment, which is not something I think they should do. And Collapsing, ughhhhh
I have always liked Demon Hunter, but for some reason I never get around to buying their records. From the moment I heard the demo of “Through the Black” on This Is Solid State Vol. 3, I knew this band stood out as unique and talented. I’ve never heard a Demon Hunter song I didn’t like. But for some reason, my money has always gone to other albums, even though I know DH are one of our time’s greats. This review may have changed that. Reading this reminded me of how much I’m missing out on and why I need to get caught up on these guys’ catalog. Maybe I’ll pick this record up along with the new Living Sacrifice. What a combo!
@Eric, Just Do it!!! You wont be disappointed. When you feel up to it, try checking out DH’s first 3 albums. They are great as well. Storm The Gates Of Hell was ok I would give it a 7/10 for some reason it just wasn’t their best all around effort although there are some great songs on there.
I agree with Steve. Check out Demon Hunter’s first 3 releases, they were great especially Summer of Darkness and Tryptych. Storm the Gates of Hell was just “Okay” in my opinion.
I wuda given it an 8, but i guess i can c y steve gave it a 9, its a solid album eitha way. Howeva, i disagree wit yals asesment of “storm the gates” i thot it was rite up ther wit this 1.
This album has grown on me as well and I loved it from the first time I listened. All of the DH releases are awesome, but my opinion is this order: 1. The World Is A Thorn 2. Summer Of Darkness 3. The Triptych 4. Storm The Gates Of Hell 5. Demon Hunter.
People give them too much crap for their sound. At least they are doing something different than most bands out there. People scream for bands to push themselves, then they go out and support all of the chugga chugga open note breakdown bands and say how much DH sucks and that they have given up on them when they come out with something different. For all of those that will argue different is not necessarily good, in this albums case it is.
I really like this album and I think that “tie this around your neck”, and ” the world is a thorn” are probably my two favorite tracks. I haven’t enjoyed a DH album like this since Summer of Darkness, my personal favorite. I love how they don’t shy away from the brutal truth of God’s word. Thanks for the review and all the coverage, it’s hard to hear about DH all the way in Australia.
Just wanted to point out that Patrick Judge is not from The Showdown. There’s no word that he’s officially joined that band. He has filled in for them live, but he played for Demon Hunter before he played for them. In fact, he filled in for Ethan Luck on Demon Hunter’s last tour, as you can see in the live concert video on 45 Days.
I have seen on twitter that he is recording with The Showdown right now though. Either way he brings some mad guitar skills to the DH album
This new album is amazing! I can’t stop listening to this! The title track is so intense and is one of my favorite Demon Hunter songs…actually it could rival Undying for me. I love it! This album is classic DH…and simply CLASSIC!!!
Steve, I’m very glad that you changed from being “jaded” to being more objective, as I remember you were on another part of this site when we spoke about this release. This is a good review. I must admit, I always liked Demon Hunter, and have bought their cd’s without question, but ever since the World Is A Thorn hit my ears I’m just enjoying them all the more. Even Storm The Gates Of Hell sounds better to me now. But still this is one VERY enjoyable album, and I agree with you when you say this is their best work to date. My #1 release for 2010 so far.
I wasn’t looking forward to this album mainly because of Storm. I liked their previous album a lot the first couple listens, but it lost it’s appeal rather quickly.
I haven’t heard this yet, but after reading some of your responses I’m confident that demon hunter has brought it back. i’ll probably pick it up soon.
It grows on you. Self titled is better for heavier aggressive, and storm the gates is more progressive. This is a combination of the two, it’s good.
the ascendicate has not broken up and is in the middle of recording our next album.
-helm
That is good news.