{"id":8931,"date":"2022-12-14T23:14:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T04:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=8931"},"modified":"2022-12-15T13:13:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T18:13:07","slug":"demon-hunter-exile-deluxe-edition-cd-and-vinyl-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2022\/12\/14\/demon-hunter-exile-deluxe-edition-cd-and-vinyl-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"DEMON HUNTER: Exile (Deluxe Edition CD and Vinyl Edition)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hunter Hero<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Demon Hunter is my (musical) hero. As a reviewer of music, a lover of concept metal, an advocate of physical media (over digital streaming\/downloads), an eschewer of social media, and a fan of Demon Hunter I find this creative, provocative and charismatic band\u2019s eleventh release, Exile<\/em><\/strong>, resonating with me on every single level. Not only is this one of their longest releases to date (the Deluxe Edition version clocking in at almost 80 minutes), but Exile <\/em>represents their first truly \u201cconcept\u201d release to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fears, Cheers and Tears<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I confess that gushing, emotion-filled subjective praise is something I rarely express (I will try to keep it together here). But when an artist hits all the right nerves \u2013 aural, visual, lyrical, artistic, spiritual \u2013 triggering a surge of dopamine into the cerebral cortex it is hard to contain the excitement. But with the dopaminergic surge always comes the crash and withdrawal as the reality of the world in which we live forces us back into a sober state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demon Hunter is no stranger to this back-and-forth battle between joy and pain, triumph and defeat, life and death. Afterall, 2019\u2019s War<\/a> <\/em>and Peace<\/a><\/em> pairing visited these opposing vectors with vigor, as (in essence) did last year\u2019s acoustic Songs<\/em> of Death and Resurrection<\/em><\/a> collection. Frankly, this is one of the few releases I\u2019ve heard in years that has me simultaneously horrified, shouting for joy and crying all within the span of 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that regard, Exile<\/em> will seem quite familiar to those who have followed this band with attentive wonder and listening fervor over the course of the past 20 years. But Ryan Clark and company are never content to make the same album twice \u2026 nor are they afraid to push the envelope of established societal norms and challenge the \u201cstatus quo,\u201d both musically and lyrically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, in what way is Exile<\/em> unique or \u201cnew\u201d from what has been the DH experience to date?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fringe Amalgamation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From my observation, this release is more expansive, yet simultaneously more cohesive, than anything they\u2019ve done previously. Conceptually, all the songs are linked directly to immediate and near future events (fictional here, yet seemingly prophetic) which depict current human behavior, viscerally examining and dissecting the physical, mental and spiritual demise of humanity. Musically, these songs broadcast a band which isn\u2019t afraid to change things up a bit without abandoning their core sounds, unafraid to express themselves by channeling their past rock\/metal influences into innovative \u201crebellious\u201d styles and sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fringe metal may be a relevant descriptive in that the amalgam of hardcore and melodic heavy metal with a dash of progressive flavor plays anthem for those who don\u2019t quite find themselves flowing in the veins of established societal norms. In that regard, the themes and scenarios depicted here will resonate deeply with the outcasts\/exiled \u2026 and, for that matter, those who love a good sci-fi futuristic story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artistic Non-Conformity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In truth, any words expressed here will fail to come close to describing the magnitude of artistic expression put forth by Demon Hunter on this release \u2013 the artistic design and integration here is at a level which far exceeds the average output of music (let alone metal) these days. In that regard, Exile<\/em> feels almost \u201870\u2019s-ish \u2013 hearkening back to socially and artistically poignant releases like Pink Floyd\u2019s The Wall<\/em> and The Who\u2019s Quadrophenia<\/em> \u2013 yet musically these songs are forward-looking, experimental and decisively metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[As an aside, fans of prog will find a similar (yet non-Christian worldview) exploration of the denigrations to humanity caused by tech and social media on Steven Wilson\u2019s 2021 release The Future Bites<\/em>, an album which cleverly uses \u201cpop-prog\u201d nuances to depict a bleak near-future world entranced by an obsession of self-importance\/awareness and social media acceptance\/conformity.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Synopsis \u2013 The Comic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For those not already aware, Exile<\/em> (a planned 4-book comic series) chronicles a near-future world of divide where those who embrace social and technological \u201cconformity\u201d succumb to the control of the M.A.S. (Ministry of Awareness and Sensitivity) while others, who cut themselves off from tech and go \u201coff the grid,\u201d are forced to fend for themselves, struggling to find like-minded folk known as LOTUS (\u201cLast of the Undying Spirit\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the comic book series\/story isn\u2019t essential for understanding\/appreciating the content of the music on the album release, the comic does serve to provide a wider context for the album. Not to mention, the comic is just cool \u2013 extremely well-illustrated and the storytelling very compelling to boot. The \u201cads\u201d section on the final pages is brilliantly accurate and creative. I love how Ryan Clark so ingeniously intertwines his passions (writing, graphic design, music, cinema).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deluxe Hunter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exile<\/em> has been released as a CD mainstream release (with 12 songs), as a 2LP vinyl (in various colors and splatter patterns) and as a Deluxe CD version. This latter version is reviewed here. The Deluxe version comes in a comic book sized slipcase which contains a 40-page book with lyrics, credits and extensive liner notes by Ryan Clark, an expanded 20-track CD which includes interlude\/narrative tracks plus two bonus songs, \u201cSleepwalker\u201d and \u201cExile,\u201d and 44-page comic #1\/4 (as noted above). Additionally, there is a 12×12 inch poster and smaller lithograph card (pictured near bottom of this post).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[A note on the notes: In the Deluxe lyrics\/narrative booklet Ryan Clark nicely encapsulates the meaning and inspiration behind each song and additionally provides songwriting\/musical exegesis on each track. Essential]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Music to the Soundtrack of The Divide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Musically speaking, those who love the more melodic side of this band will probably be more apt to embrace these songs, and conversely, those who prefer the metalcore sound of much of the band\u2019s canon may feel a bit slighted. Additionally, there is a progressive element to some of these songs, influenced by Ryan Clark\u2019s love for Evergrey (dark introspective melodic progressive metal), which shines forth in a few songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Note: This Deluxe version CD is a unique listening experience from the standard CD issue because it contains all the \u201cnarrative\u201d tracks plus two extra songs. Honestly, I was disappointed in the physical digipak media for the standard release with limited booklet and no song commentary. However, its nice to have on hand if you just want to spin cycle through the songs only]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The saga begins with the brief introductory track \u201cScared and Alone\u201d<\/strong> (the interludes on the Deluxe version CD feature our heroine \u201cHunter\u201d reading from her diary or chronicling the events of her journey) where Hunter, secured within the confines of her makeshift sanctuary, frames her dilemma \u2026 and her struggle for action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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