Storm the Gates of Hell

(Intro, nothing important. Feel free to skip down to the review) - I first heard of these guys a few years back and honestly, I did not like them at all when I listened to one of their songs. It was too heavy for me. Last year I decided I would give them a second chance and I started with Fading Away from Storm The Gates... Little did I know that I would eventually come to like all the songs from this album. Coming from listening to bands like Skillet, TFK, Red and the like, I enjoyed the cleaner vocals and that is why I got into the album so much. Now I can say I thoroughly enjoy all their songs, trashy and rock.So, unto the meat of the review. The album opens up with the self-titled track, 'Storm The Gates Of Hell', a fast paced song that has a running time of 2:44. Just enough time to build intensity and give the listener a feel of what the rest of the album is like. Demon Hunter sure knows how to open an album straight out of the Gates (no pun intended). The track ends and seamlessly transitions into 'Lead us Home', the first full length song on the album. The chorus here is super catchy and is guaranteed to have you humming it for hours to come.Skipping a little forward we find the first ballad, 'Carry Me Down', a song that deals with death and its duality, being both sad but with hope at the same time. Great ballad. Moving forward a little more, we arrive at 'I Am You', an intense metal song that is sure to have you head banging all the way though. This song is followed by 'Thorns'; which is, as Ryan Clark has described in the past, a power ballad for not being completely soft but still carries a light rock punch. I'm still getting used to it but it's a good song overall. Next we have 'Follow The Wolves', a very different sounding song from something you'd expect from Demon Hunter. It's their most experimental song on the album, including a "disco beat" right before the chorus. (Instant favorite of mine) the standard edition of the album closes with 'Fiction Kingdom' and 'The Wrath of God', a couple of songs that Ryan had considered to be almost one, since the aforementioned is a sequel to 'Fiction Kingdom'. Solid way to close Storm The Gates...The bonus tracks, 'No Reason to Exist' and 'Grand Finale' are also really great, and they are the biggest reason why I'm glad to have gotten the deluxe edition. Very intense songs and for any listener who is fascinated with the book of Revelation in the Bible, you'll be pleased to hear what 'Grand Finale' has to say.This deluxe box sets includes a necklace inspired from one of the demon skull horns. Well manufactured piece of jewelry. Also included is a sticker which reads 'Hell hath no fury at all'. There are also some exclusive photos of the band as well as the lyric booklet which has handwritten notes from Ryan Clark where he explains the 'how' and 'when' of the songs.Last but not least, a documentary is included which showcases the band and a bit of their recording process.In conclusion, Storm The Gates of Hell is a great album that any Demon Hunter fan should have, especially if the deluxe edition is an option.

as a record this is a great album musically, only issue (that I don't have with any other CDs in my truck) is that the volume seems to fluxuate a little bit on certain tracks, but it isn't a big deal for me personally as it is not a whole lot and only happens on a couple of tracks.

I LOVE this album. The songs flow together; the words are amazing. Lead Us Home has become the anthem of my life, and Carry Me Down speaks volumes to me about what death is like for a Christian (the song itself is very bittersweet and I believe accruately reflects a Christian's view on death also). I own all DH albums (except the new one but that will change shortly), and each album has really been great--and each one is somehow a step up from the previous. I don't know how this band manages to do that, but they're SOLID. If you like DH's other albums I don't see how this one can possibly disappoint!

I enjoyed this album loved every song from Demon hunter they are my third favorite Christian rock band.

This CD literally changed my life! It was the turning point of my becoming a Christian, and I cannot express what I owe this band, in words! I can simply ask of you, BEG OF YOU, to listen to the lyrics, and let them strike your soul!"No man can bring the fatal stingand I laugh at the gallow's thralljust line it tight around my neckso my words can break that fall"(Grand Finale)

I love the packaging and all the extras that come with the deluxe fan edition. If you love getting all they have to offer this is the edition for you. The actual size of the packaging was smaller than I though it would be coming in a little smaller than two standard cd cases placed side by side. "Storm the Gates of Hell" itself is awesome. I'm amazed that with 4 albums in such a short time Demon Hunter has managed to not deliver the same album twice. That being said "Storm..." isn't an amazing new adventure. That guitar work and overall sound is basically the same as we found it on "The Triptych". If Triptych was your favorite of Demon Hunter's previous three albums then you've gotta pick up "Storm...", but if you wish they'd return to what made them great on their self-titled debut then maybe you should wait for this one to go on sale.

It's Demon Hunter so I had to have it. It's not as good as their best albums but I'll still listen to it. I'm happy to own it now.

Would give a zero if I could. It didn't come with the necklace that the description mentions, and I would've had to pay to return it. I just kept it and love the stuff that was contained, but was highly disappointed.

They may not be the best known, or the most highly acclaimed in the metal scene but they always deliver the goods. Every album builds on the previous. Triptych was a step up and away (while still being the same) from Summer of Darkness, and Storm... is another huge leap forward.Standout tracks are: 'Storm...', 'Sixteen', 'Thread of Light' and 'Wrath of God'. They are all utterly devastating in different ways. 'Thread...' is outstanding, one of the best they've written, as is the almost epic 'Sixteen'.The weaker tracks are actually the more commercial ones, a la single 'Fading Away', 'Carry Me Down' and 'Lead Us Home'and 'Incision' is the lesser of the more brutal contingent. They are not bad, just middling. However, from 'Incision' onwards, not a fret wrong.Always reliable and always interesting. It's good that they're relatively unknown as it feels more personal on listening. Also, check out their new 'World is a Thorn' album, as it (again) betters even this!

I love this music.

最初の曲は非常にブルータルでスラッシュなものなのですが、その後の曲はヘビーでメディックなコーラスを聴かせる曲になり、アモーフィスなど北欧的な楽曲が好きな方々にはおすすめです。特に４曲目の"Fading away"はキラーチューンです。このVOは、声質も安定してとても素晴らしい！音程の変化に全くフラフラせず、パワフルに歌っています。よくを言えば、スラッシーでブルータルな曲調の場面になると、ドタバタした散漫な展開になり、サビの良さを崩しているのが残念かな・・と感じます。今後、この部分が改善されればアモーフィスを追随するA級バンドになります！絶対！

メロディアスなハードメタルという感じですが、重低音が効いておりCrossfaithに似ているジャンルになります。外れの曲があまりなく　いいアルバムだと思います。