Demon Hunter - Demon Hunter (Solid State)

Demon Hunter is something of a mystery. The ever-evolving line up of people who come together to create music within Demon Hunter is something of speculation. There are rumours of members of ZAO, Project 86 and Living Sacrifice are involved. What's been confirmed so far is the involvement of the two main players within the group, Don and Ryan Clark from Training For Utopia. Regardless of who’s in the group, the strength of the music on their debut album is nothing short of brutal.

With more than a nod to the overall sound and aggression of Slipknot, Demon Hunter will no doubt appeal to the same fan base. ‘Screams Of The Undead’ opens to the album with riffs coming from all corners and a build up of speed that careers on collapse. The verses are full of bowel churning growls, while the choruses utilises clean melodic moments. Slowing things down is ‘I Have Seen Where It Grows’. Again, the Slipknot comparisons enter into the equation. ‘Infected’ is melodic for the most part, while ‘My Throat Is An Open Grave’ is anything but what the title suggests. This melodic rock song has some great chord changes and orchestration. Vocally, the band reveal yet another side to themselves too.

One of the highlights lifted from the album is ‘Through The Black’. Although this track made its first appearance on the compilation This Is Solid State Vol. 3, it’s been given a whole new slant with its new re-recording. ‘Turn You Back And Run’ is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, but is also one of the best, while the short sound effect laden ‘And The Sky Went Red’ leads into the relentless riff barrage of ‘As We Wept’.

The final tracks of the album show Demon Hunter are capable of trying something new. ‘A Broken Upper Hand’ leans towards a more hardcore sound vocally, while ‘The Gauntlet’ is an epic that moves from emotion to emotion with some great percussion work.

Demon Hunter fit well within the nu-metal genre, but at the same time incorporates a touch of thrash and death metal. The other thing that sets them apart is the vocal abilities within the band. All in all, this is a great debut album, and one group to keep an eye on in the future.

By: Justin Donnelly