vandalz's Full Review: Summer of Darkness by Demon Hunter
Christian Rock has dramatically pushed the bill further over the past decade. Back in the early 90’s, if you heard anything that sounded anything like Nickelback to Slipknot then it was not Christian, period. Of course, time and persistence will eventually overcome all obstacles, as has been seen by the Christian Rock world of late.
Artists like Mortal, back in the early 90’s were ousted quickly when they presented lyrics and hard riffs like Slipknot or the like. However, we present you with Demon Hunter; a group that has been compared to Slipknot and Sepultura in large numbers. Based out of Seattle, WA this Christian Rock band has truthfully pushed the envelope.
The Summer of Darkness by Demon Hunter is aggressive from the beginning to the end, never seeming to let up at all. Comparing them to Slipknot or Sepultura is not a stretch at all, and in all actuality, they actually sound better to me than some of Slipknot’s earliest works. The band has even been featured on MTV2’s “Headbanger Ball”. That is pretty impressive coming from a Christian Rock band.
*** Analytical,Methodical, and Critical Overview ***
First and foremost, the music on this album is right out of a Slipknot or Sepultura album in true form with loud guitars, driving bass lines, and a drummer that can intoxicate your senses.
Of the thirteen tracks, only two slow down. Those two tracks are track number four, “My Heartstrings Come Undone”, and track five, “Our Faces Fall Apart”. Even so, those tracks follow the same aggressive undertone from the other eleven tracks surrounding them.
Growing up with my teenage years in the 90’s, hearing this band labeled as Christian Rock surprised me. I have listened to many bands over the years, including Sepultura, Slipknot, System of a Down, Nine Inch Nails, and so forth. However, I have not heard of band in the Christian Rock era that emulated their sounds so closely.
Being this as it is, I decided to look into the lyrics. Christian Rock is primarily based on the lyrics more than the music. After looking into the lyrics, it is a little unsettling the vagueness of the references to Christianity. I’m sure this will stir a debate, but the lyrics seem to focus around death and hate in some instances. Below is an example:
“Burning my way through life with a vengeance,
Giving my weight in hate until the neck bends” – Verse 1, Track 7 (Less than Nothing).
According to what I’ve read in the Bible, God does not advocate hatred, and vengeance is supposed to be for God to dictate. This makes it hard for me to push this as Christian.
However, they do save themselves numerous times. One example can be seen below:
”Keeping sight of the vow we made,
Holding fast to the hope,
So when we stand in the line of wrath,
The true and righteous will know” - Chorus, Track 4 (Relentless Intolerance).
Throughout the album they do focus some more on the Christian acceptable lyrics. Not to mention that they have two songs on separate albums of the widely popular X series albums released by BEC Recordings, a strong Christian music backer.
*** Summed Up ***
Overall, this album is highly impressive. It has a sound that I have not heard pushed in the Christian scene, and hopefully it will spark other bands to push the envelope a little. I would ask for the lyrics to be a little more focused on strong Christian topics, but I do realize that music of this breed is not exactly your worship verses you sing in church. I will be watching for the next release from this group, and again we will hypercritical in everything, and prejudiced in nothing.
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