Concert Review: Demon Hunter, Convictions, and Cultist (live in Detroit)
Detroit’s Midtown is home to some of the best music venues in the city. At the heart of this art-centric district stands the prestigious Majestic Theatre. The building is over one hundred years old and is known for its extensive musical past. Last Saturday a line was added to that history as the venue welcomed Demon Hunter. The West Coast act brought their There was a Light Here tour with opening bands Convictions and Cultist.
The evening opened with the up-and-coming band Cultist. Their provocative name matches their equally abrasive sound. Their classic Southern California hardcore hooks kicked the evening off on an exciting note. The dual vocalists delivered raw growls while moving constantly across the stage, creating a strong sense of rapport between performance and sound. The intensity occasionally came at the expense of clarity, as some of the harsher vocals veered into an overblown “eating the microphone” territory while the dense noise covered a few rough edges.
The boom in the breakdowns was felt through the floor, and the low, groove-driven riffs permeated the senses. They played their latest single, “Amen,” which the crowd actively responded to with eager cheering. The band even succeeded in getting the crowd to do a wall of death, which is an impressive feat for an opener.
Another band rapidly gaining momentum in the Christian metalcore scene took the stage next. Convictions is building their reputation through relentless touring, and it has been paying off. It was the last night of this nearly month-long tour, and frontman Quinton Dreier said they were going to give it everything they got. And they did.
This Midwest metalcore act unleashed fervent riffage throughout their set. The tight, proficient playing was carried out with an alertness and finesse. Each number was punchy, aggressive, and thunderous in sound. The vocals were delivered with fortitude, and though not a lot of warmth was sensed from the frontman’s frat-like demeanor, the band still carried its own sort of honest charm. They ended their set with “The Price of Grace,” closing with a message centered on God’s love.
The crew was impressively swift because it felt like only a few short minutes before the lights dimmed for the headliners. Demon Hunter has been making music for 25 years, and they are a very well-oiled machine. There was an effortlessness to how each member masterfully played their part. The guitars sang with stinging severity while the bottom end was held down by the workings of the intuitive bass and drumming.
They opened with the popular track “Sorrow Light the Way” off their most recent record, There Was a Light Here. They played many fan favorites including “Jesus Wept,” “Dead Flowers,” and “The Last One Alive.” Frontman Ryan Clark swept across the stage in his duster jacket with gleeful confidence and intriguing control. His vocal range shined as he drew on soft emotion during the slower numbers and unleashed venom on the band’s bangers. Each member played with precision and intentional inflection, cutting through in a powerful way.
The crowd was completely enamored with each song. They sang along, cheered, and the circle pit recurred several times. The fans’ age range was wide, from young kids with their parents to older couples. Multiple times, groups of friends stood with their arms over each other’s shoulders and hands lifted high in the air. This was not just a rock concert; it was a worship service.
The evening ended with a finale featuring members from the opening acts joining Demon Hunter on stage. It was a celebration of them wrapping up a very successful tour run. The love for the Lord, the fans, and the music was shown on everyone’s smiling faces. It was a concert to remember.
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