Demon Hunter : Live Review

Trees Nightclub
Dallas, TX
Saturday, June 19

Demon Hunter's Summer of Darkness tour rolled into downtown Dallas's "Deep Ellum" nightclub section recently. With 4 bands on the bill, it looked to be one of those long nights that you question the wisdom of the promoter. Fortunately, however, the musical action seemed to go by fast.

Local band One Minute Halo went on first, displaying its version of today's numetal. Lead vocalist Jeromy Moorehead, while seeming to be just out of sync with the chopping rhythms during his sudden lurches and scene-characteristic moves, has learned the lesson that an opener should keep the crowd focused on the show's headliner during its between-song banter once or twice throughout the set.

Haste The Day came out and aggressively got to business right away. While their indie release promised a lot of potential and their debut album, Burning Bridges, delivered a solid brutal sound, it is live that their power comes across loud and clear. It's funny to see how lead vocalist Jimmy Ryan (who could pose as a stunt double for Dogwood's Josh Kemble) prances around like an emo pop guy but shrieks his bowels out with powerful black metal shrieks. Drummer Devin Chaulk sings the kinda mellow tune right after blasting some savage double bass drum bursts. He later announced matter-of-factly, "We're a Christian band," to which the crowd cheered (so loud it drowned out his statement about not shoving things down people's throats, but just sharing what God's done in their lives). Then he introduces "Honest Confession" and the band and audience tear it up together. The band ended on a high note, leaving the audience (especially myself) wanting more.I loved every minute of their fairly short set (about half an hour), with my appreciation for this band growing.

Dead Poetic added some melodic balance to the evening's bill, placing well-timed pop nuances to its tight sound. The opening notes coinciding with their two banners dropping immediately showed that this was a band with a career mindset in rock & roll. While probably not out-doing the sonic quality of their latest album, New Medicines, they kept the energy, urgency and dynamic tension going throughout the set. I felt like I had to concentrate to feel the vocal passion while the music rocked my body in a different direction. Cool. I'm pretty sure they ended their set with "New Medicines," which was a real high note.

After a short wait with the stage masked by a curtain, Demon Hunter pounced into their set, with band and audience throwing themselves into the crashing rhythms. Vocalist Ryan Clark was "on" all night, delivering intense vocals like he meant each word. Guest drummer Yogi (Holland) bashed away (making his powerful arms known from the first track on) while Don Clark occupied stage right (or the far left, from the audience's perspective), with new touring bassist Jon Dunn interacting with the audience in a jovial but still "my work is to rock, and work is good" manner. Once a local in the Dallas music scene (as original Embodyment vocalist) Kris McCadden was on the other end of the stage, mostly focusing on his blazing and tight rhythms with Don Clark. The only down to the whole evening was the volume level of Ryan's microphone during the melodic choruses. The overall sound could have used a punching dose of increased volume during these moments.

The band kept the energy and intensity levels high all evening, interjecting gratitude to their audience between songs, as if they were apologizing for pummeling their brains during each song (ha). Haste The Day's frontman, Jimmy Ryan, offered his vocal help for the tune "Beheaded." Dead Poetic's Brandon Rike gave his all for "Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator," allowing Demon Hunter to convey its guest vocalist vibe for this tour. It was all over too soon, and the band (probably from the instruction of the sound crew at Trees) had to just say thanks after the crowd chanted, "One more song! One more song!" This tour finds three bands that are all performing at high levels at the same time.

[This photo of Demon Hunter was taken by Grant Curlis at the tour's stop in Wichita, Kansas.]

Comments

By Jake

I didn't know Kris McCadon played guitar for Demonhunter!!! I've met him like three times, still oblivious to this fact until now!!! That is so freakin' awesome!

By School Days

School Days http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_740112/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_School_Days.php
Small Town Life http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_740156/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_Small_Town_Life.php
Social Injustice http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_740158/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_Social_Injustice.php
Starting Over http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_740160/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_Starting_Over.php
Teen Drama http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_740130/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_Teen_Drama.php
True Story http://www.onlineshop.us.com/cat_dvd_163395/DVDs_Genres_Drama_By_Theme_True_Story.php

By Interest

Interest http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_2611/Books_Business_Investing_Finance_Interest.php
Industries & Professions http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_2624/Books_Business_Investing_Industries_Professions.php
General http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_745506/Books_Business_Investing_Industries_Professions_General.php
Consulting http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_2634/Books_Business_Investing_Industries_Professions_Consulting.php
Customer Service http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_2635/Books_Business_Investing_Industries_Professions_Customer_Service.php
E-commerce http://books.lowcost.us.com/list_541256/Books_Business_Investing_Industries_Professions_E_commerce.php

By Tim Flock

Tim Flock http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3477351/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_NASCAR_Drivers_Tim_Flock.php
Tony Stewart http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3387511/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_NASCAR_Drivers_Tony_Stewart.php
Ward Burton http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3387541/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_NASCAR_Drivers_Ward_Burton.php
Other Gear http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3387371/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_Other_Gear.php
Pennants http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3387381/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_Pennants.php
Photographs http://sporting.lowcost.us.com/list_3473771/Sports_Categories_Fan_Shop_NASCAR_Photographs.php

By this site

Related Stories :

Comments