Let's face it, the genre known so infamously as "nu-metal" has needed a serious kick in the ass for quite some time and it looks like the release of Demon Hunter's debut effort signifies its long awaited arrival. A highly accomplished take on the genre, the band combine all of the best qualities of bands of past and present, making for a devastating modern metal assault that is so surgical in delivery that it might as well be a lobotomy for the listener to forget the thousands of other acts who have since polluted the gene pool.

Empowering aggression and climactic melodies are the name of the game as the group charge through a cavalcade of heavy hitting screams and hooky vocal harmonies. Backed by razor sharp riffing that slices and dices with metalcore reminiscent force and a refined nu-metal aesthetic, the band have no problem steamrolling over the listener, especially with the rhythmic combustion of the often double kick laden drumming performance and the gratingly thick bass lines.

The groups strongest quality is song structure and implementation and when listening to this effort its hard not to feel that they're masters in their own right. Each song fits together perfectly, with verse to pre-chorus to chorus to breakdown, etc. and while it is somewhat no frills, it also effortlessly retains the momentum and the listeners attention. For all they do right controversy does surround the band however as their line-up is a mystery, complete with fake aliases and misleading press photos and while rumors persist of the group being comprised of former members of Training For Utopia, Living Sacrifice and other Solid State Records associated characters, nothing has ever been officially confirmed. Nu-metal's grave may be dug and the funeral processions might be ongoing but that doesn't mean the coffin can't swing open and give everyone one hell of a surprise and perhaps that's what Demon Hunter are, that one last jolt that proves we haven't heard the last of the talent yet.