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I DON’T THINK DEMON HUNTER’S “DRIVING NAILS” IS ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK IT’S ABOUT

 Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 10:30am by

Demon Hunter are a Christian band, so when I heard that their new song is called “Driving Nails,” I assumed it was about… y’know. And while the lyrics are certainly spiritual-ish (“I was the light/I was the quiet heart”), the chorus leads me to believe the song is not actually about Christ – at least, not in any literal sense: vocalist Ryan Clark sings “It’s driving nails into my soul,” and as the Bible tells us, nails were driven into much more than just Jesus’ soul.

ANYWAY, you can listen to the song here. It’s terrible, which should come as no surprise, because it’s a Demon Hunter song, and the nicest thing you can really say about Demon Hunter is that the Clark Brothers (one of whom, Don, is no longer in the band) are talented graphic artists. But what is up with the effect they laid over Ryan Clark’s vocals? Was that an aesthetic choice, or is he just that terrible a singer that they needed to mask his pipes? It sounds like Gary Suarez on the Invisible Oranges Crustcast.

“Driving Nails” will be on DH’s new album, The World is a Thorn, which comes out March 9 on Solid State.

-AR

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  • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

    Inspired me to listen to Vital Remains’ “Hammer Down the Nails”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Kurkjian/1238131077 Rob Kurkjian

    Ugh this band is awfull. They are about as generic as it gets. Plus his vocals sound like nu-metal screams which turns me off that much more

  • http://www.myspace.com/dragmymiserydown myke

    angry christians ahhhh run for the hills!!!!

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      Hey hey, don’t let the MS christian community hear that… I have the feeling we’re gonna get some spamming of “Not all Christian Bands suck” with the same list of mediocre metalcore bands like Zao and Crimson Armada being named. Then some dick, like me, will start an argument against the belief in Yahweh, and all a manner of proselytization will occur.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Kurkjian/1238131077 Rob Kurkjian

        I do have to say most christian bands suck but there isn’t anything wrong with having a christian metal band. Just can’t think of any that are good.

        Anyone else notice a lotta these christian metalcore bands are Hot Topic sell outs too just figured Ide point that out

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          Haha, it’s begun. Yeah, I agree there… I wouldn’t mind if they all weren’t so awful. Can’t think of one that is beyond metalcore or generic death metal.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Kurkjian/1238131077 Rob Kurkjian

            It really kinda sucks that they are all so awfull. The lyrical direction is kind of interesting and fresh to go a more “uplifting road” but sadly it seems most of the bands that go that way aren’t doing it as artistic expression more a cheep cash in. They go and play generic metalcore because they know it will sell. Its really quite sad. Props to bands that take a fresh lyrical road that dont suck. And Im not refering to christian bands in particular more any band that doesn’t write generic lyrics about the usual

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            For sure… As much as I love it, Gore lyrics get kind of old.

  • Blyan

    Anyone else see the vagina in the middle of the cover art? The statues on the side are rather phallic also.

    • James

      possibly a comment on sexual immorality?

  • http://metallized.org Metallizer

    Christian bands suck *primarily* because they are Christian. If they want to sing about little Jesus, they can always do country, gospel, or simply commit suicide.

    • cougar party

      I disagree. In my experience, most of the metal I listen to you really can’t understand the lyrics. It’s usually the overall sound of the band that hooks me in and after several listens I eventually am able to pick out enough of the lyrics to understand what they are singing about. At that point, it might as well be anything because I’ve already decided i like their sound; the lyrics are not going to change my opinion drastically.

      I think the problem with Christian bands is that the vast majority are just not very good. I really don’t know why that is, but I think the lyrics are a secondary problem. I think we all listen to plently of bands that have politcal/religious, shitty, or cheesy lyrics that we don’t like but the music is cool.

  • Andy Synn

    I’m pretty certain R. Clark can sing well in the live setting, so the vocal effect are confusing.

    And I love Demon Hunter. I am unashamed of this fact.

    They do seem to have the predictable problem these days of not being able to decide whether or not to go heavier/more metal or lighter/more melodic (poppy?) and just get a bit lost in the middle.

    I’m a sucker for a big vocal melody though, so that’s what they do for me.

    • Brian

      I am with you. I think the first 2 Demon Hunter records are solid. it got very weak from there on out. I mean it is the same sound over and over yet it gets lighter each time. maybe they are not catering to the metal crowd but some sort of rebelious youth group crowd? who knows

      • Andy Synn

        Knowing the history of the band I have a hard time seeing them as sell-outs or exploiting their religion, etc, mainly BECAUSE the Clark brothers get most of their income and exposure from their design business and get a lot of critical kudos for it, they seem to do the band in the time they have between their main career as they love performing and making music.

        Now, in all honesty they’re one of my favourite bands…. but not a particualrly amazing band. And I admit this. From growing up as a hardcore Earth Crisis/V.O.D. kid to my general preference for black/dark folk inflected material (which I find the most consistently artistic) it’s still odd that I love DH with the passion I do. I consistently admit that they put out some extremely generic/cheesy stuff. I’ve enjoyed elements of both the last two records, but found them (as you yourself intimated) highly inconsistent. They clearly love lighter elements, electronic stuff, as well as a good background in heavy metal (real heavy metal as well, lol) but seem to fall prey to the idea that to be good they have to mix everything they like, rather than paring it down to a specific focus. We can’t all be cross-genre boundary breaking acts. Art is strange int hat it works best either within strict boundaries or no baoundaries at all… DH are straddling the fence too much.

        Again, not a great band and I feel no particular need to defend them… but maybe this post will cause them to mend their ways? (he says presumptuously).

        • http://www.myspace.com/7stringslaughter CJLsky

          While I agree with most of what you say, the fact that DH mixes everything up is what makes them interesting…if their albums were all heavy or all lighter songs, it would just be boring. And I happen to really enjoy “Driving Nails”, regardless of what it’s about…though it’s not “metal” by any means, it’s still a good song.

    • GraZmus

      This New album is absolutely BRUTAL… Their heaviest yet.. They just have a few “ballads” (like all of thier albums) on it.. Listen to thier new song “The World is a Thorn”.. Brilliant…

      BTW i love Demon Hunter’s music…but i hate all religion… It’s all about the music.

      • Ayzed

        AMEN to that brother. lol. im not really religious at all but i like demon hunters MUSIC. the new album is awesome.

        i like it when bands mix melody with heaviness. it keeps shit interesting you know.
        my favourite album to date would have to be as i lay dying’s “an ocean between us”.

  • http://mikesyoutalkingtome.blogspot.com/ Mike

    Congrats Metalsucks, you managed to post a new Demon Hunter song while ignoring the sick new Dillinger Escape Plan song that is streaming on their myspace. To all the people who say all Christian bands suck I generally agree but I really like Norma Jean/Luti-Kriss and Living Sacrifice and they are both christian

  • SolaceInNothing

    Im a total atheist and I have no problem with bands who have different religious views then me like As I Lay Dying. Their Christian, but not a “Christian band.” Demon Hunter however is a cheesey exploitation of their religion. They are the tv evangelast equivalent to metal and are just completely disgusting because of it.

    They are a perfect representation of what religion is, a bullshit image.

    • teaches_of_peaches

      says the guy who likes As I Lay Dying.

      There are better representatives of christian metalcore out there: old Underoath, Zao, Training For Utopia (Clark brother’s old band)

    • http://www.myspace.com/realign Brandon

      what makes Demon Hunter Stand out is that they are not trying to keep the Christianity on the DL…Their not trying trick you into anything by trying to sneak their message in. They’re not trying to make everybody happy. They are who they are and screw everyone who doesn’t like it. That’s metal to me. Sound is completely subjective and therefore stupid to argue about. I like Demon Hunters sound…the production on this album kinda annoys me, but I still like the songs. And the fact they they are so versatile as well. I guess I’m unaware of this list of criteria a metal band must meet to be considered “real” metal. Honestly I don’t care…I just trust my ear. As a musician myself, I write what I feel…not what everyone else expects me to write because of a certain style label.

      I would never consider honest music cheesy…the production is a little cheesy, yes, but not the music.

      And as for the guys review above. It’s seems obvious to me that the song is about someone who has lost there way and has realized they need to get back to where they once were. It’s written from a broken person to Christ.

  • rayray

    I think this goes back to Doc’s post the other day. To each his own. I have personally bought the last two Demon Hunter albums and love them both. Yet I still listen to Cannibal Corpse right after…Demon hunter are one of the more “catchy” metalcore bands out there. I really like what ive heard so far from the new stuff and plan to actually spend money. As far as christian bands go they are still miles away from As I Lay Dying

  • Sambo

    Whether or not Demon Hunter doesn’t show off their religious beliefs in their music has nothing to do with their music and how good it is. At least Demon Hunter won’t EVER be close to being on the verge of ANYTHING metalcore, and not to mention that last time I checked, Attack Attack is “supposed” to be a Christian band but they swear at their live shows, and it’s funny how some of the lyrics in Stick Stickly speak out to the Lord. There’s a difference to being generic and being hypocritical, and I would prefer generic music rather than listen to bands who in reality are just a bunch of hypocritical sell-outs who fall into the mainstream world and try to speak the Christian message. I’m a Christian and that bothers me to an extent, but it doesn’t bother me that Attack Attack sucks major balls and Demon Hunter play good music. No not great music, “good music.”

    • Rachel

      Finally a comment not completely against Demon Hunter. The way some people word their posts on here, you would think that people are convinced that being a Christian band automatically means you write terrible music, which is blasphemous. So, for all the tr00/black metal people out there, does that mean that if DH turned Satanic and became Dimmu Hunter, they would give off the illusion of sounding better? Last time I checked, Burzum is awful, and even if Varg became a Christian, it would still sound awful.

  • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

    Hmmm… went and listened to it. Kind of pussy. If you read the bio or whatever, this album is supposed to take shots at atheists. Yup, these are truly unintelligent fellows who are under the foolish notion that morals come from God. Fucking retards.

    • Andy Synn

      Strictly speaking most forms of accepted morality come from religious under-pinnings.

      It’s one of the great problems of free thinking and philosophy of how to apply morality from a divinity-free basis.

      Which I agree with to be honest, morality is a culturally shared awareness. But you can’t deny that most of the roots of our morality come from original religious thoughts,a s these were the dominant methods in our early cultural development.

    • Ben

      But it’s ok for atheist musicians to take shots at religion? It happens ALL THE TIME and they are much more open about it. Feel however you like about religion(I’m personally conflicted on the subject, being raised catholic but not practicing at this point) but the standard within the metal community on this topic is absolutely ridiculous. So many of you are so intent on proving just how “metal” you are that you’ll flock together like sheep to the most cliched bullshit.

      • Sambo

        I’m with you on that opinion. Everyone thinks it’s OK for non-religious bands to either take shots at religion or be praised for their music but everyone thinks it’s OK for religious bands to be trashed upon and despised because they say what they wanna say. So just because you think Jesus isn’t real shouldn’t mean you have the right-of-way to believe that Christian metal should be done and over with. Many NON-Christians listen to For Today and scream the lyrics at live shows. Basically what you think is right is wrong and there’s nothing you can do to stop Christian metal or any kind of Christian music in its tracks.

    • Erik

      tisk tisk tisk…boy aren’t you in for a rude awakening come judgment day….if you don’t believe that morals come from God then you have been sheltered your whole life from God’s word. with language you use Demon Hunter is not the only unintelligent fellow…i like Demon Hunter, they wear their faith on their sleeve and if the population can’t handle that then STOP LISTENING AND MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE!!!

  • reznik

    i like zao and thats it!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Showalter/100000592087843 Anthony Showalter

      +1!

    • fightingmike

      I love them too. Their newer stuff is a little weak, but their older records are classics and were groundbreaking for all of metalcore!

  • http://dmxrr15@hotmail.com IsntaTOTALdouchebag10

    As a few people have stated, there first 2 albums were really solid. Each CD after that had some solid songs but I really couldn’t listen the whole way through.

    As for their Christian image…how is this even still a topic? Their name is fucking Demon Hunter, these guys have been around long enough that people who don’t like them because of their music, religious message, etc…should be long fucking over it by now. I enjoy some melody in my heavy music from time to time Sure this band isn’t the best (and this new song, really don’t see myself listening to it much more ever) but Ryan Clark is a talented vocalist who has his own style. I’m sorry but this unrelenting, pummeling shit is great to listen to, but seriously, what kind of mood are most of you in the whole day? My fucking head would explode from listening to only fast, dark metal all day every day. Not that the music is so technically amazing and hard to write, its not, but throwing a catchy melody over something takes quite a bit more talent than just a monotone scream.

    I think the only reason the Christianity in metal should be a topic is if the band is blatelnty trying to cash in on a certain demographic by throwing some Christian lyrics, imagery, etc…into their message. This band has never shied away from it and should be respected because of it. I am not Christian by any means but I certainly won’t fault a band for being passionate about something, even if its something I do not agree with.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Showalter/100000592087843 Anthony Showalter

    The song was unbelievably terrible. I review metal and stuff, and the last album was listenable, but this new song (and the other one too) sound like some sappy slow-jams in comparison. This album DOSE NOT deserve Dan Seagrave’s awesome artwork!!!

  • Plasmaterial

    Just listen to Becoming the Archetype.

  • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

    Decent band. Storm The Gates Of Hell was pretty sweet.

    • Jonathan

      Best song they ever wrote, I think, but it was way too short.

  • Kye

    They have a song here and there that I’m like “Hey, this is…alright,” but I’ve never been a massive fan.

    Which is why I honestly don’t even care to listen to this. The opinion seems to be that it isn’t very good, and Demon Hunter have both never surprised me and always found a way to make me hear their new material without me seeking it out, so I’ll just wait til that happens.

  • Discipleofthewatch

    Hey, My Pandora Internet radio is playing Demon Hunter’s Lead Us Home right now, for the first time, I think. What a coincidence! Nice vocals, but I don’t know about the rest of it.

  • SouthFL Infidel

    I think it’s kind of lame how people aren’t “metal enough” unless they bash Christianity. Why worry about it? I’m a Christian…I’m not “born again” or “practicing” or whatever you want to call it. I strongly believe in it though, even though I’m living what is considered a sinful life…and I love metal, always have. I don’t look for lyrical content first…I look for what sounds good. If I can understand the vocals, that’s great. If I like/believe the lyrics, that’s even more awesome.

    But I don’t buy albums based on the band’s religious views, so by that same token, why would you automatically rip on a band just because they believe in God and sing about it? You put in a cd because you want to hear it…but when you’re done with it, guess what…those guys playing the music have lives to live…why would it matter how they choose to live it? I’ve got hundreds of albums of various types and I can probably count on one hand the artists that I KNOW what their religious views are. I loved Megadeth and Type O Negative before Mustaine and Pete Steele found God…and I love their music since then too. If they’re not spouting about how we’re all going to burn in hell on their albums, who gives a shit?

    What other personal belief do we get so worked up over when it comes to metal? There’s probably plenty of bands who believe in aliens and plenty who don’t…yet people don’t go to the internet and instantly bash the ones who feel differently about it than they do. Why? Because it’s UNIMPORTANT TO THE MUSIC.

    • Jonathan

      You sir, are a smart man.

      And frankly, I don’t see why this song is terrible. It’s better than KsE’s Arms of Sorrow. God, that’s gotta be one of the few songs I hate from KsE, but even though I prefer Demon Hunter’s Triptych, this isn’t bad for a metal ballad.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Kurkjian/1238131077 Rob Kurkjian

        Im not bashing Demon Hunter because they are christian like I said in my above post. Im bashing them because they suck Suck horribly. Good post to you though

  • teaches_of_peaches

    If those assholes just got Training for Utopia back together, they’d get all the christian metalcore street cred they could ever want.

  • GG

    As a metal fan in general, I don’t think Demon Hunter are half as bad as most people comment about.

    Even though their albums are far from perfect, Demon Hunter are still one of the best christian metal bands around. So far, from the upcoming album, I’ve enjoyed all of the released tracks, yes, even Driving Nails.

    To the haters, if you don’t like them, don’t listen to them. No one’s forcing you to listen to these songs.
    If you don’t like them only because they are christian…well…I’m afraid that even an atheist will think you’re an asshole.

    \m/

  • ITTOA666

    Why does a christian band have anything resembling a demon on the front? Lame as it gets.

  • d j

    I think demon hunter is getting a cheap shot thrown at them here. I think people forget that they are just a hobby band, it isn’t their day job its just a side project. So I don’t think they’re sellouts our really care about their overall popularity. Being that the Clarks design business rakes in a lot of money. I bet when everything is done and over with the band breaks little over even with all the costs it takes for recording and tour. Its not like their albums are going platinum are anything. I for one think the whole situation of the band is awesome. Every member loves their day job and when they feel like it they go on tour and has a loyal fan base that goes to see them. Ryan Clark is the main writer of all the material and since music ins’t his career and just his hobby I don’t think deep criticisms apply to this band.

  • Sambo

    Have any of you even seen the new music video for Collapsing by Demon Hunter? Sure you guys will simply hate it, but either you will hate Soilwork or love Demon Hunter moe since Bjorn Strid is in this song as guest vocals.

    • Sambo

      Delete this comment.

  • Sambo

    Have any of you even seen the new music video for Collapsing by Demon Hunter? Sure you guys will simply hate it, but either you will hate Soilwork or love Demon Hunter more since Bjorn Strid is in this song as guest vocals.

  • Derek

    Well, everyone has their opinion and I respect that. But, demon hunter has Christian alvestam singing guest vocals on the new album and he is an athiest. So what does that tell you? I think it says Christians are not judgmental like people think. They love everyone. Don’t get caught up in what you’ve heard about christianity…I’m a christian and I listen to secular bands for their music…if you don’t like it don’t listen..metal standing for everthing dark is a myth, it’s an art form..

    God bless!

  • http://myspace.com/prazecraze stevo

    I guess you dont like Demon Hunter because they have talent and just dont scream into a mic. I see… Good to know…

  • Adam Davis

    Hey, lay off DH, just as bands who are a bunch of satanist pussys think satan will love their bum when they get to hell because they sang about how evil they are and worship satan doesnt make them good or metal.
    DH is a great metal band, one of the best in the Christian arena, they include God in their lyrics because its important to them, and get ripped to shreds for it, while no one says anythign when a bands worships satan. They aren’t using Christianity at all, its just a great focus for their music.

    God bless

  • Trevor

    Hey, before anyone claims the whole idea that the fact that they’re Christians makes them suck, let’s review. How many times have they mentioned Jesus in a song? Never. Yes, their music is Christian, but it is in no way trying to stuff religion Down anyone’s throat. Instead, it’s mainly about personal guilt and tragedy. If all their songs (without maybe “Wrath of God”) were sung by a non-Christian group, I bet people would like them more. It’s just a public mindset against Christianity. Even in the school system. Why is it ok to give Muslims a school prayer room, but not let a kid read a Bible at recess? Anyway, I digress. My point is, if you don’t like their style, then fine, that’s your opinion. But don’t start knocking their quality due to their religion.

  • nathan

    You’re a terrible writer. You start out with this hole “the song isn’t what you think” statement and then go into bashing the band in some non-logical measure. Listen I understand that you don’t like Christian metal bands. So why not drop you’re liberal attitude and grow a pair. You remind me of an emo kid I went to high school with back in 1999. He’s dead now, he killed himself over a bands lyrics.

  • Subform

    So, let me just take a deep breath and start. Let me go back to late 80′s and point out a band “Believer”,a christian trash technical band. And how about Sacrificium, I Built The Cross, Pergamum, Earth From Above, Mortal Treason, Becoming The Archtype, Mirror Of Dead Faces, Impending Doom, Thy Will Be Done, In The Midst Of Lion, Hail The Blessed Hour…But i simply must underline Sleeping Giants – Sons of Thunder (the song);to which no brutal guts/gore grindcore technical death metal (non-Christian) band can come near in a sense of spiritual presence. I still listen to some of my past favorite bands (Nile, Decapitated, Cryptopsy, Aborted, Malevolent Creation, Carcass…), so i DO know what am talking about. I agree that most of (American) Christian bands try to follow the same pattern of that deathcore/metalcore. But i think we all know that Americans wore always found of following the current “fashion”. But still, there ARE many great Christian bands.

    PS:I AM ALSO A CHRISTIAN.

  • Grave

    If you don’t like Demon Hunter, why did you listen to the song in the first place?
    Just because you don’t like a band doesn’t mean no one else does. You opinion is, honesty not worth the time you took to write it.

  • Matt

    Ok first of all I like how you
    talk abou being Christian and yet you bash one of the best Christian bands ever beside worship bands. Secondly your new sh-t catagory shows how Christlike you ctually are. So don’t bad mouth bands cause of your opinion seeming that this band inparticular has led more people to Christ than you

  • Matt

    So my bad. Thought this was a Christian site. I was very wrong though. I hope all of you can eventually relize and come to the reality that there is a heaven and and hell. There’s only one way to heaven and thousands of ways to hell. Demon hunter does anamazing job pointing this out. there lyrics (when taken correctl) point out our obvious fate.choosing the harder road and following Christ and choosing to fight in the army for the lord is my path but you weak
    willed people that choose to coast through your
    loves and never fulfill any of the awesome plans god has for you. But choose to conform to the world and be the same as everyone else. Those who curse the sky face the dirt posers.

  • Trenten Minning

    wow… demon hunter is my favorite band, i have all their songs, frankly i hate most metal bands, but i love their lyrics the sound, lol deteriorate got me through high school. and its amazing how angry people get about other peoples beliefs. and then they go and call them retards… well for those of you who did not know. the Bible is not the only thing that proves Jesus’ was a real person. the Gospel of Luke gives us all thats is needed for archeology to figure that one out. and the fact that all the other major secular historians confirmed Him. and that we can prove through archeology that Paul was writing at least by A.D. 40. which just shows that it was not made up over time but really happened and was being spread very early on after Christ’s ascension. and then there are the some 24,000 manuscripts that are 99.5 percent pure compared to todays translations of the BIble. this sounds like a small number but, there are only 1,400 manuscripts of Homer’s work, so the evidence is their believe it or not.. all true facts aside about history you can doubt the spiritual aspect if you want… they believe what they believe because it is logical to do so, maybe you critics should try reading up on things… or to much head banging? Demon Hunter is a great band. and if they were not Christian then i would say they would be as pointless as all the others out there

  • Gerhard van Staden

    Axl Rosenberg, Man you should really learn to interpret metal before you start writing slanderous things about Christian bands. Galasians 2:20 “It is no longer I but Christ who lives within me.” Romans6:4 “Therefore we are buried, through baptism into death…” Jesus said whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me! The driving nails are being driven into a christian’s soul, because he is dying to self. Your soul is your thoughts, emotions, intellect. While these things are not bad in themself they can lead you astray if you are led by them and do not walk according to the Spirit. These things need to be submitted to Christ, in essence they should die! That’s what Ryan is singing about, so stop critizising brothers in the faith just because something is is to complex for the simple to understand.

  • Ashlee

    Seriously? why does everyone always have to make it about religion? Yea, Demon Hunter is a Christian band. BUT any REAL Christian knows that Christianity is NOT about religion. So many people get that confused when they don’t know what being Christian is all about. It has NOTHING to do with religion…in fact Jesus DID NOT FOLLOW RELIGION. He followed the ways of His father by relationship. I hate how Christianity is put into a religious category when religion is nothing but a bunch of rules and regulations. Chritianity is about having that relationship and getting to know God through his word. It’s not by religious works that you are saved but by faith. So for anyone turning from Christianity because you don’t want to have to be religious…well there ya go…NO RELIGION HERE!

  • Riner85

    I think it is cause if you’ll look at it with a spiritual eye it looks like that the verses is Jesus himself talking to man like when they say I am the light or I was the blood in your broken heart. The chorus is man talking. When they say driving nails into my soul, driving angels from my door I think of the war between the mind and spirit like Paul says in Romans 7.