Demon Hunter "War" & "Peace"

There wasn't a thread here with this title despite several threads started about the albums and singles. I figured this would be easier to compile thoughts.

My deluxe edition came today (which I was pleasantly surprised by considering the March 1st release date). I'm interested, as others get theirs and the release date comes, what everyone thinks. Of course I've started with War first. Going to try and get through both tonight.

Just a note from the opening of War from Ryan: "War is by no means trying to be the most ferocious material we've ever written. We are still adherent to an album-listening experiencing that ventures through both peak and valley." I quote that because, as you listen, that is good ground. It's not as heavy as I expected (wanted) it to be. I expected something absolutely furious within the track list. It's not here. There isn't ever a Jesus Wept, One Less, Crucifix, Storm The Gates of Hell, etc. It's defined by heavy tracks beginning to end but there is quite a bit of variation. Ash is the "ferocious" track. I'll hold back about quality for later but thought I'd give a look. An enjoyable first listen.

Peace is going to be incredibly interesting to hear reactions to. Surely many who just want pure metal will malign it and pass it off as worthless. For me, I've always liked many of their softer tunes. Heart of a Graveyard is a fantastic "rock" track, a personal favorite, and songs like "Carry Me Down," "Dead Flowers" and "I Am A Stone" are absolute favorites as well. Like War, Peace is also quite varied. There are chunky heavy riffs here. It's not "soft" exactly. It's quite diverse. There are rock tracks (More Than Bones, Peace, Bet My Life), some lumbering heavy tracks (Loneliness, Time Only Takes), piano based tracks (Recuse Myself, Fear Is Not My Guide) and quite few of the tracks, within them, have some heavier breaks. I suppose the common thread is no hard vocals. If that's your main gripe with the band, you may have something to listen to finally.

Honestly, Peace will be easier to listen to from the start. I have no expectations with it. I would bet I like it less than War because I'm bent on the heavy side. Yet, Ryan is a songwriter. He can write well in any style. If Peace proves the better written of the two it may turn out far better than I would imagine. One listen through of each and I'm neither amazed nor disappointed. Good albums grow. I hope both do.

I suppose tomorrow is the day a few more will chime in on this since it's release day.

Going to give an update.

At this point, after a week of shifting opinions, I'm starting to see most every song from both releases come around to my attention. All the quirks that threw me and my expectations have stopped interfering. With 22 total songs with the bonus tracks this is a lot to listen to and absorb. I'm not sure how anyone could make a quick judgment.

Going back to both releases:

War

Misjudged this a bit. "Cut To Fit" was really underwhelming at first with its melodic backbone riff but has since drawn a rightful place as an opener. It's not instantly impressive, which made for an odd first listen. It threw off the "flow" Ryan always talks about with every DH album. The next three tracks, "On My Side," "Close Enough" and "Unbound" are stellar and much heavier, riff-forward tracks. Unbound is actually pretty thrashy. The fifth track "Grey Matter" then seemed underwhelming just like "Cut To Fit" as a result merely because it goes back to something more melodic. Good track but, as it is, still not a favorite.

On the second half, "The Negative" I absolutely loved from the first moment. It's still outstanding. "Ash" is indeed the barn-burner of the album. It is the "Crucifix," the "Storm The Gates of Hell" here and it absolutely blazes! That burst of aggression made the switch back to a slightly more groove oriented track in "No Place For You Here" and the more melodic "Leave Me Alone" seem like a downer as the album moved to close. That wasn't true. Both tracks have their place though "Leave Me Alone," like "Grey Matter," hasn't really hit me yet. "Lesser Gods" is the odd track on War. It has a doomy opening that bursts into melodic black metal riffing to begin. After quieting down, it moves into a dark, clean Zeppelin-esque No Quarter style verse with that black metal riffing, double bass, harsh vocal bridge before a powerful, anthemic chorus. Surely a great closer and great twist. The bonus track "Gun Fight" is outstanding It was a grower but I'd replace one of the two weaker tracks with this one.

Again, this is much more diverse than expected and works great as a stand alone album.


Peace

"More Than Bones" is a fantastic opener and fits the mood of the album, more melodic but well written. Several tracks here are cut in this mold. Both "I Don't Believe You" and "Loneliness" have really soft choruses that mark songs on both this album and a few on War. Definitely an interesting contrast. Loneliness is actually a really outstanding heavy track till it gets to the chorus. It reminds me of Paradise Lost "Icon" era with its doomy riff with smooth melodic lead over it. I'd say it's the most interesting track here if it weren't for another one yet to come. "Peace," like the opener and "Bet My Life" later on, has the upbeat rock/metal vibe common to this album. "When The Devil Come" is the oddball and the most outstanding track between the two albums. It has a southern, acoustic vibe, with its stomping pace, tolling bell and some hand-clap inducing rhythms. Love it! 

The second half starts heavier because the next two tracks, "Time Only Takes" and "Two Ways" with minor adjustments could fit on War. Both are heavier tracks with bigger riffs. Recuse Myself sounds like DH pushing a softer sound in new directions. The piano has a fuzzed out Type O Negative sound. A great soft tune that ends up being the "Dead Flowers" of this album in some ways. "Bet My Life" has been mentioned already as an upbeat track leads into the incredible closer, "Fear Is Not My Guide." If "Recuse Myself" was the "Dead Flowers" of this album, this is the "I Am A Stone." An amazing bare bones piano track with minimal instrumentation. I think I'd prefer this be the end. The bonus track "Tear You Down" isn't a favorite for me. Much like the start of the second half of the album started it finishes as a heavier closer that again could have fit on War. I'm not sure I'd miss it though if it weren't here.

Thankfully these albums have been growing on me the whole time. Still expecting to get more out of them as I absorb the lyrics and commentaries in the booklet.

I'll chime in here when I get more time to type out a huge long post, but overall I really enjoy both albums, each has a great amount of variance and stand out tracks

I only have Peace, it was sitting in front of my door when I got home as a gift. So far I like it, the song craft is strong and it has amazing production. Fave song so far is When The Devil Comes followed closely by Loneliness. Ryan sounds great, he's really learned to use his singing voice well.

After one listen each:

I prefer War to Peace.  Peace is great too,  I just like the heavier stuff better.  Also, a full album of mid-tempo clean vocal DH is not often what I will reach for.

Favorite tracks: War - Ash; Peace - When the Devil Come

I think Cut to Fit is a great song but not a good opener.

I wonder what a mixed playlist as one epic album would sound like?

I digest new music slowly and my opinions change.  I was certainly wrong about Styper - No More Hell To Pay.  Ask me again in 6 months what I think of these.

eatbugs wrote:After one listen each:

I think Cut to Fit is a great song but not a good opener.

I wonder what a mixed playlist as one epic album would sound like?

I agree on that first point. After you said that I started wondering what could replace it and I'm not sure. Maybe The Negative since it starts heavy, has a thrashy upfront feel but has the smooth chorus? That would have captured my attention on a first listen. Instead I just passed over Cut To Fit the first few times. The chorus was too smooth and the riff didn't catch me at first. It actually lowered my expectations for the album that I expected to be truly heavy. I expected the album to come out roaring. Cut To Fit doesn't.

Wondering this too. I bet someone will work one out. I'd like to hear it.

Thoroughly enjoying both albums. I keep being tempted to pass off Peace since I'm so inclined to heavier material but when I play it, I love it. It captures me in an unexpected way every time. I have even put it on as "background music" and it always piques my interest and pulls me in. It's always heavier than what I think too.

That said, War is essentially perfect for me. I've come around on every track and played it every day for 2 weeks. I can't say the same for Peace.

So after quite a few listens here are my favorites:

War: On My Side, Unbound, The Negative, Ash, No Place For You Here, Lesser Gods
Peace: More Than Bones, When The Devil Come, Two Ways, Recuse Myself

One of my first thoughts after listening to both was they should have just taken the 5 or 6 best from both and made it one album, and I still stand by that

These 10 I listed are some of the best DH has ever written, but the rest are forgettable IMO, and could have been left off

I may change my mind in the future of course but at the point I'll stand by that verdict 

And I hate to say one is better than the other, because I do really enjoy both but if Im gonna grab an album to jam to its going to be War