Demon Hunter Embrace Their Christian Band Status

Many bands that have sprung from the bosom of the Christian metal and hardcore scene often backtrack and downplay their categorization as a Christian band and their association with the scene in order to not alienate a secular audience. But not Demon Hunter. "We have been from the get-go and we continue to talk about it," vocalist Ryan Clark told Noisecreep about the band's Christianity.

"It's not about hiding that fact," he added. "We've, for the most part, received more respect for standing our ground and not walking the fence with it. All the songs and all of the viewpoints that we get across is through the lens of the Christian worldview. That is a large part of our demographic. We don't like to shy away or pretend we are something we're not. That's exactly what we are."

Clark, a self-styled "British pop rock nut" who loves bands featured in NME and Q, such as Elbow, South, Doves and Cooper Temple Clause in addition to having a passion for metal, cut his fangs playing in Training for Utopia when he was a wee lad of 20 and learned that it was better to be fully honest and celebrate the band's Christian messages. "At that age, you want to please everyone," Clark said. "You want to be Christian enough for Christian fans to like to you and not too Christian so non-Christians will also like you. That never worked in our favor until we really were who we were, and we had a lot of growing up to do."

Demon Hunter's 'The World Is a Thorn' may have a Christian worldview, but it's certainly a mid-tempo rager that will appeal to a regular, average, non-denominational, non-religious metal fan. "This record is definitely for people that know and love the band, and they will be stoked on it," Clark said. "For people who disregarded the band, they need to actually gave this a chance, as it would nix a lot of the pre-conceived notions."