Interview with Demon Hunter vocalist Ryan Clark

Recently Demon Hunter vocalist Ryan Clark took a moment out of his busy schedule to speak with me about the band and their newest release, True Defiance. The group has been cranking out metal for more than ten years now and True Defiance might very well be their best disc to date. I absolutely feel that it’s heavier and more aggressive than anything Demon Hunter has done in the past. Here’s what Clarke had to say.

Now that your new disc True Defiance is complete how do you feel about it and are you satisfied with the outcome?
Ryan: I’m extremely satisfied with the outcome of the record. Everything about this record – from the music itself, to the artwork, and everything else feels like a destination for Demon Hunter. It feels like we’ve been on a journey to make this record for the past 10 years, and it’s finally come to pass. I think the songs are the perfect blend of everything DH has created in the last decade – and then kicked up a couple notches. We’re really very proud of it.

Was there any pressure when you were writing for this record to try and follow up on the critical acclaim and success of The World Is A Thorn?
Ryan: I don’t really feel pressure writing… and if I do, it’s solely pressure that I put on myself – and that usually just consists of your general, “it has to be more aggressive, more energetic, more technical, catchier” type of thinking – but like I said, that’s mostly in part to fulfill my own artistic demands. I’m comfortable with what Demon Hunter is, so I have no desire to reach outside of that to appease this person or that person. That’s not to say I don’t hope for new fans with each record, but I would never alter what we do to better connect with someone that doesn’t already understand and appreciate who we are. I know we have a dedicated fan base, and they’ve stood by us for 5 records, so I’m extremely confident that they will receive well the material we release at this point.

Check out the song: “Dead Flowers”

I feel like this record is a bit more aggressive than your previous work. Was this something that came about as a conscious effort or do you think it was a sort of natural progression?
Ryan: I feel like it was definitely a natural progression. I’ve been saying this quite a bit about this record, but the best way to describe it is: if, when we first started this band, you were to refer to DH as a metal core or new metal band, we’ve been slowly chopping away at the “core” and the “new” over the past 10 years. It’s not that we don’t appreciate those sub-genres, but I think we’re more comfortable being a metal band that’s harder to describe than that… or maybe easier to describe. I just like being a ‘metal band.’ With all that said, yes, there is definitely a more aggressive element to this record. I think it ultimately comes down to the fact that we play music that we want to hear. I wish there were more bands that played really heavy, grooving music with a lot of catchy melodies and less trendy fluff. There aren’t enough bands that are really stoking us out these days, so we’re trying to fix that.

After so many years in the business how do you stay inspired when recording a new album?
Ryan: My current inspirations have shrunk down to probably about 8-10 metal bands and a handful of non-metal artists – my influence pool doesn’t welcome newcomers very often. To me, the timeless age of quality metal is behind us, so that’s usually the well I draw from. I’m much more into 90s metal. A lot of the stuff that passes for metal these days I can’t get into. So I guess one of the biggest inspirations, record after record, would be to inject some of that good ol’ quality metal into the current scene. I know people appreciate what we do. I’ve been told on a number of occasions that there aren’t enough bands doing it the way that we do, and I have to agree.

What is the meaning behind the title, True Defiance?
Ryan: If metal is inherently defiant, but it’s all defiant towards the same things, then that sense of adversity is lost in fog of redundant white noise. To be truly defiant is to oppose those that claim to be the defiant ones. Christianity in heavy metal is true defiance. It also speaks to the concept of trends. In a lot of ways, this record is defiant to the current metal scene on a musical level as well.

You guys are offering your fans a chance to remix “Someone To Hate” as part of a competition. How did that come about and what does the winner receive?
Ryan: We thought it would be a cool way for fans to interact and give them an opportunity to show some of their own creativity. I personally love electronic music, so I was really stoked about the idea. The winner receives $1,000, and the remix will be officially released by the label. Not too shabby.

Did you ever imagine you would be releasing records and touring so many years later?
Ryan: Not at all. I wouldn’t say I put a ceiling on Demon Hunter, but if I were realistic about it 10 years ago, I probably would’ve told you 2-3 records tops. The fans changed that. Their dedication and support of the band have made it absolutely imperative to continue. And I’m really glad for that. It’s allowed us to really grow as a band.

Do you find the rigors of touring taking more of a toll on you as you get older?
Ryan: Well, we don’t tour as often as most bands, but when we do – yes. Absolutely. It takes a lot longer to get into the swing of it these days. I sit behind a desk, designing all day. I’m usually too busy working to get in shape, so my only workout is when we play… and that’s intense when it’s broken up into infrequent chunks. And aside from the physical aspects, getting older brings more responsibilities… most of which you’re either postponing or ignoring while you’re on the road.

In a hundred years from now what will the music history books say about your band?
Ryan: If I were to hope for some adjectives, they would be: high-quality, heavy, catchy, relentless, unapologetic, unashamed, evergreen, steadfast, devoted, diverse, powerful, meaningful, righteous, and loved.

What is next for Demon Hunter?
Ryan: We’re lining things up for the year… some touring, hopefully more videos and events. It should be a killer year.

Check out the song: “My Destiny”