Demon Hunter - "The Tide Began To Rise"

"I don't belong here
I never saw this on the path I walk
The blood-stained walls, the lines of chalk on the floor
It's getting so hard
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I can't remember
The way it was when everything felt right
My mouth held shut and my eyes sealed tight with control

So I remember on the inside...

I found a dark, infernal place
I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

And somehow...

So now I'm stuck here
Between the guilty and the insincere
The words I spoke have left me here all alone
I should have known this
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I wish it all gone
I could've burned it when I had the choice
And now I'd die to kill this noise in my head

So I remember on the inside...

I found a dark, infernal place
I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

If this is all the love my spirit can give
Just take it back tonight
There is not a reason more to live"

I first stumbled across Demon Hunter a couple years ago, right after their first CD (self-titled) came out. I heard one of their songs "My Throat Is An Open Grave," and absolutely loved their sound. The first album was pure metal- loud, angry, screaming. "My Throat" was the single ballad-esque song on the album. Their sound has since become a bit more melodic, but with more than adequate levels of screaming metal goodness. Ryan Clark, the lead singer, has a great growl, like he half-swallowed some charcoal and tried to chase it with Drano. Their second CD "Summer of Darkness" showed the band developing a slight melodic edge, with more understandable lyrical parts (sometimes with metal, I really have to look up the lyrics to see what is being said. I'm a weakling, I know). Their most recent CD "The Triptych" expands on the melodic aspects while still keeping enough metal to set off any detector. For more info on Demon Hunter, check their sites: http://www.demonhunter.net or http://www.purevolume.com/demonhunter.

This song comes in both the regular CD version, and an acoustic version, both of which are good. The album version enters with a nice piano part, and a steady yet subtle beat. One interesting feature of the album version is the almost chainsaw/motorcycle-sounding effect the band uses, which is very interesting. There is also some synth-sounding work near the end, along with some very pleasant harmony. Yes, harmony. The acoustic version is, naturally, beautiful guitar work and a very similar sounding vocal track. There is a faint hint of echo, almost like it was just the singer, and the guitars in the room, nothing else. Amazing work, whichever track one chooses. I love them both.

Lyrically, I really enjoy Demon Hunter on the whole, especially this track. This song is about regret, remembering one's past and acknowledging the darkness within. It resonates with me. I have done some crappy things in the past, and will no doubt do crappy things in the future. But this song encourages me to look inside, to realize what I am, but to also realize the fact that I can change.

I think the thing that I love the most about this song is the final bridge/chorus/whatever: "If this is all the love my spirit can give, just take it back tonight, there is not a reason more to live." Soe may see those lines and imagine they are depressing- "if I can't do it right, I don't want to live". I find them to be something else. These lines call to me to love and to give, because if I don't do that, what good am I? If I cannot love, both those around me and myself, then I don't need to live, for the two are completely linked for me. To live is to love; to love is to live. Recently, I've had friends go through some tough times. This song reminds me to love, to give, even when I don't feel like it. When I feel like the answer is so simple, and I just want them to realize it, this song encourages me to love the person and help them realize the answer themselves. I cannot just give it to them. Change, true change, comes from within.

On a personal level, this song really reminds me of my past. It helps me stay motivated to change, to not regress to those dark infernal places that I know are inside. They are there. I have been there. I know those places. And I know enough to know I don't want to stay there. I have to change, I have to get out of those places. I have to love.

So I rememer on the inside...