Demon Hunter – Storm the Gates of Hell

Demon Hunter is known for writing about spiritual warfare, but Storm the Gates of Hell exposes the battlefront that’s present in everyday life. “Sixteen” refers to the minute after the first fifteen of fame, taking aim at hypocritical Christians who publicly live their faith for the wrong reasons. Hard to believe Demon Hunter is a hardcore band based on the pop piano hook that opens “Thorns,” an anti-cutting/suicide anthem that points to the wounds of Christ as reason against further self-infliction and shame. “Follow the Wolves” challenges believers to not conform to the worldly ways of sheep, but rather dare to live a higher spiritual calling.

What’s striking about Storm, produced again by Aaron Sprinkle (The Almost, Emery), is the way it makes hardcore simultaneously credible and accessible, balancing Demon Hunter’s sound without compromising it. Unlike most other bands in the genre, you can actually understand Clark’s singing/screaming without need of a lyric sheet (most of the time). This band is more thoughtful than most, never resorting to cheesy clich?s like Christian metal bands of the past, yet never ashamed of their beliefs either. Their faith-based expression is another example of balance in their music.