Extremist (album)

Extremist
Studio album by Demon Hunter
Released March 18, 2014
Genre Christian metal, alternative metal, metalcore, groove metal
Length 50:31
Label Solid State
Producer Jeremiah Scott,[1] Aaron Sprinkle
Demon Hunter chronology

True Defiance
(2012)		 Extremist
(2014)
Singles from Extremist
  1. "Artificial Light"
    Released: February 13, 2014
  2. "The Last One Alive"
    Released: February 25, 2014
  3. "I Will Fail You"
    Released: April 10, 2014

Extremist is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Demon Hunter. The album was released on March 18, 2014 through Solid State Records. Extremist sold nearly 18,000 copies its first week and debuted at no. 16 on the Billboard 200,[2] making it their most successful album to date.

About

Vocalist Ryan Clark released a five part video series talking about the album and the album's three singles.[3] Part 1 talks about "Artificial Light" and how his lyrics are used as "ammunition", as well as how "lyrics in heavy metal tend to be a little ignorant".[4] Part 2 is about "The Last One Alive" and how to be steadfast in a world going the opposite direction, describing it as apocalyptic.[5] Part 3 is about "I Will Fail You" and how to be realistic with the expectations you put on another person.[6] Part 4 talks about the album overall and how the band has progressed their sound from album to album and this particular album's "middle-ground sound" with its mellow material.[7] The fifth and final part talks about how the band picked the songs that appeared on the album, mainly "Hell Don't Need Me" and "Gasoline".[8]

The deluxe edition of the album also includes two bonus tracks, "Waste Me" and "Helpless Hope," an 11-minute DVD video montage of the making of the album, and a 7" vinyl record containing acoustic versions of "I Will Fail You" and "Hell Don't Need Me."

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [9]
AllMusic [10]
CCM Magazine [11]
ChristCore [12]
Christian Music Zine [13]
HM Magazine [14]
Indie Vision Music [15]
Jesus Freak Hideout

[16]
Outburn 8/10[17]
Substream Magazine [18]

Extremist garnered a largely positive reception from the ratings and reviews of music critics. At CCM Magazine, Matt Conner rated the album four stars out of five, stating that the release "is a driving, diverse set" and their record label "should have a major hit here."[11] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars, writing that "Extremist may be a tad too bold of a title, but it's still another strong entry into the Demon Hunter discography."[10] At HM Magazine, Collin Simula rated the album four out of five stars, saying that it is a "turning point" album, which is "succinct, deliberate and focused."[14]

Chad Bowar of About.com rated the album four stars out of five, remarking that the band "have delivered an album with a lot of variety" on which possess "plenty of mainstream appeal".[9] At Outburn, Mike Smith rated the album eight out of ten, remarking how at "Seven albums deep, Demon Hunter remains familiar, yet distinct and memorable."[17] Tim Dodderidge of Substream Magazine rated the album four stars out of five, saying that with the release the band have "revitalized their identity."[18] At Indie Vision Music, Lee Brown rated the album a perfect five stars, remarking that how the release "marks that spectacular explosion back onto a scene that the band has long since claimed rulership over."[15]

At Jesus Freak Hideout, three critics reviewed the album, with lead reviewer Michael Weaver giving the release 3-and-a-half out of five. According to Weaver, the release "as a whole, feels a little lacking", but it still "proves that even when this band isn't at their best, they are still better than most."[16] Timothy Estabrooks wrote that the album "is a very good album that is still better than what many other bands are releasing, but it comes in pretty low compared to the rest of Demon Hunter's discography."[19] Mark Rice said the release is "definitely a change of pace for the band, and it will remain to be seen how their fans will receive it."[20]

Anthony Ibarra of ChristCore rated the album four stars out of five, stating that the album creates the sensation of "leaving the listener anxious as to what will come next."[12] At Christian Music Zine, Anthony Peronto rated the album four stars out of five, writing that "Even if the music isn’t as radical as its title suggests, after a few listens Extremist is almost top-tier material for Demon Hunter."[13] Mind Equals Blown's Jeremy Vane-Tempest rated the album an eight out of ten, saying that the release is simply "sublime."[21] At The Christian Music review Blog, Jonathan Kemp rated the album three stars out of five, cautioning that "Extremist is a good record if you want to hear Demon Hunter doing what they have been doing for over a decade, which is putting out solid music", however the release is "just not for those who want a little more from the band."[22]

Commercial performance

For the Billboard charting week of April 5, 2014, Extremist was the No. 16 most sold album in the entirety of the United States via the Billboard 200 and it was the No. 2 most sold album in the Christian category by the Christian Albums charting. Also, the album was the No. 5 most sold album on the Top Rock Albums chart, and on the Hard Rock Albums chart it was the No. 2 most sold. The album was the No. 2 most sold on the Independent Albums chart, and the No. 23 most sold on the Digital Albums chart. Extremist became their most commercially successful album to date.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Demon Hunter. 

No. Title Length
1. "Death"   2:34
2. "Artificial Light"   4:29
3. "What I'm Not"   4:00
4. "The Last One Alive"   4:25
5. "I Will Fail You"   4:44
6. "One Last Song"   4:20
7. "Cross to Bear"   4:29
8. "Hell Don't Need Me"   4:06
9. "In Time"   4:58
10. "Beyond Me"   4:23
11. "Gasoline"   3:56
12. "The Heart of a Graveyard"   4:07
Total length:
 50:31

Personnel

Demon Hunter
Additional personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[23] 16
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[24] 2
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[25] 23
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[28] 5

References

  1. ↑ "Buzztrack: Demon Hunter- "The Last One Alive"". RadioU. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Demon Hunter's 'Extremist' Cracks U.S. Top 20 - Blabbermouth.net". Blabbermouth.net. March 26, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Demon Hunter's Ryan Clark Talks About New Album 'Extremist' (Video) - Blabbermouth.net". Blabbermouth.net. March 19, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ryan Clark Interview Part 1 - About "Artificial Light" - YouTube". YouTube. February 19, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ryan Clark Interview Part 2 - About "The Last One Alive" - YouTube". YouTube. February 27, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Ryan Clark Interview Part 3 - About "I Will Fail you" - YouTube". YouTube. March 5, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ryan Clark Interview Part 4 - About "Extremist" - YouTube". YouTube. March 19, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ryan Clark Interview Part 5 - Picking The Songs - YouTube". YouTube. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bowar, Chad (March 18, 2014). "Demon Hunter - Extremist Review". About.com. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Monger, James Christopher (March 18, 2014). "Extremist - Demon Hunter | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Conner, Matt (May 1, 2014). "Demon Hunter: Extremist (Solid State)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 35. ISSN 1524-7848. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ibarra, Anthony (March 18, 2014). "Demon Hunter - "Extremist" Review". ChristCore. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Peronto, Anthony (March 24, 2014). "Demon Hunter – Extremist (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Simula, Collin (April 7, 2014). "Demon Hunter – Extremist". HM Magazine. HM Publications LLC. ISSN 1066-6923. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Brown, Lee (March 13, 2014). "Demon Hunter – Extremist | Reviews". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Weaver, Michael (March 16, 2014). "Demon Hunter, "Extremist" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Smith, Mike (2014). "Demon Hunter: Extremist (Solid State)". Outburn (Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano). Jun/July 2014 (74): 56–57. ISSN 1542-1309. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Dodderidge, Tim (March 12, 2014). "Demon Hunter – 'Extremist' (Review)". Substream Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  19. ↑ Estabrooks, Timothy (March 15, 2014). "Demon Hunter, "Extremist" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  20. ↑ Rice, Mark (March 14, 2014). "Demon Hunter, "Extremist" Review: JFH Staff's Additional 2 Cents". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  21. ↑ Vane-Tempest, Jeremy (March 10, 2014). "Demon Hunter: Extremist". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  22. ↑ Kemp, Jonathan (March 19, 2014). "Demon Hunter: Extremist". The Christian Music Review Blog. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Demon Hunter Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Demon Hunter Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Christian Albums for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Digital Albums for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Demon Hunter Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Demon Hunter Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Independent Albums for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Demon Hunter Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Demon Hunter. Retrieved April 30, 2014.