Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter talks about the song "I Will Fail You." #Extremist comes out 3.18.14 / Pre-Order on iTunes: smarturl.it/extmst, or get a bundle here: smarturl.it/Sol... or here: smarturl.it/dhs...
My dear Lord, thank you so much for Demon Hunter and Ryan Clark. sometimes it seems like he is going through my life and picking out my pain, then singing it
I know their faces I hear their names, reveal their future, warriors of regeneration I've seen their journey I've felt their pain I've reached into each shame filled, dark and failed existence some of the lyrics he sings from a song he did with sleeping giant (army of the chosen one), not sure if he wrote them or tommy from SG, but seems applicable here in any case =)
There's a reason this man is my favorite lyricist in the history of music. Nothing he writes has no meaning. He's touched subjects that many lyricists don't bother or dare to touch and I greatly admire him for it. Like the song "Not I" states, I'm struggling to give my hand to the faith I'm fighting, yet his lyrics have always touched my soul in ways no other band could. I couldn't imagine this band without him, and while many people may say that about other members in other modern bands, they just don't compare. Ryan is as crucial to the band as some of the greats have been to their bands.
Words of wisdom, most non-christian do not understand. To truly have a relationship with Jesus you must realize that you will fail or sin. But if you have Jesus, those sins are washed away.
So true we can strive for righteousness but we will always fall short of the mark. Finding the ability to forgive and move past human failure is life lesson we all come to at some point.
Fun fact, this was the first Demon Hunter song I listened to back in 2016 before I was Christian. I loved them then and I love them now! Demon hunter is my favourite band
I just wanted to say that this isn't the first time Ryan's lyrics have helped me through life... Its definitely not chance that I just happened to download this album the day I was feeling so down and depressed about my life and my choices. I'm a 22 year old Christian, and I've never once questioned my beliefs, nor the existence of God. However, I deal with counterproductive logic constantly which fights against my desire to do whats right as well as my own personal demons (Sex in this case). I forget, that when it comes to other Christians, even God, I will fail them. And despite my sins I know that I won't always be way, and I know the Lord has a plan for my struggles. Thank you, Ryan, for reminding me not to give up, yet again.
I'm not a Christian, and even I have something to gain from Ryan's lyrics and explanations of them. Great stuff! I sort of both agree and disagree with his slight bashing of the metal scene in general. There is still great music being made today, you just need to sift through the masses of general garbage to find the gems! Especially in an overcrowded, diluted metal scene as of late!
It depends what you enjoy, or what you're open to. Progressive rock and metal is some of the best, forward-thinking music that has ever been written. Musicians like Steven Wilson and Devin Townsend constantly pushing the boundaries of genres. Personally I think electronic music can be the most moving, energetic and emotionally-impactful style of music as well- artists like Cell, Solar Fields and Carbon Based Lifeforms.
Dantess26 Progressive rock amd metal is what I dig the most, with Demon Hunter, Red and Breaking Benjamin being my favorite bands. Though I can enjoy anything, from the most old school to the most progressive electronic sound.
I like Breaking Benjamin aswell! Check out the artists I mentioned. Devin Townsend changed the way I look at rock/metal music. And any progressive rock acts on the Kscope record label are some of the best music you'll ever hear.
Ryan/DH, Been listening to you all for years, I've only seen you in concert once (not a big concert guy). I know from personal experience that it can be hard to walk the line. It will never be easy, and it's not suppose to be. You send a great message in all of your music and I love you guys for it. You keep doing what you're doing, and people will eventually begin to understand you, especially when you don't feel like playing the game. Keep it up! Looking forward to the rest of the songs!
Awesome transparency! Demon Hunter pours their heart out in everything they do. I’ve been a fan since ‘07! First Demon Hunter song I ever heard was, “Not I”.
I'm not religious at all, and I love this song. The lyrics really speak to me and the explanation he gives is spot on how I interpreted them. If your words speak true to me, then I don't care what convictions you may hold.
Brilliant Song, wonderfully honest. I think what Ryan said about walking the line is not just true for bands but for christians in general. I don't see why some people think I'm somehow less human or flawed just because I believe in Christ.
Still loving DH though imperfect in the manner Mr. Clark eludes and loving the One who gave them the talent to deliver the message in such a unique way. Others could use the lesson. Thx Ryan, just now getting it after alot of delusional years with unwarranted expectations in people, especially of the authority you are speaking of. Getting real and loving it.... as He loves me.
ryan didn't seem too upbeat here. i hope walking that line isn't crushing him spiritually. i'm an artist, though not a musician, so i understand the "line" pretty well and christians can treat you as brutally as anyone in the secular world. many art galleries won't carry my work because of my beliefs, though my work itself doesn't always reflect those beliefs, and christians complain because i don't have "i love jesus" blatantly scrawled on every piece. it sucks but i'm not going to change what i believe inside just to sell more art. make the music you want because it is the best in the genre (secular or christian). i think your heart has been evident throughout your career. if that isn't enough for others then "too bad"!
100 percent correct. If you have a lot of JPM's in the music, the Christian audience begins to take notice but once you begin to use less and less due to where you are at within in your own life, spiritually and mentally, Christians freak out and say: Oh, I knew they were a fraud, or I knew they were in it for just the money and the list goes on and on. Just remember the JPM's, just remember the JPM's (JPM stands for Jesus Per Minute)
Let's think about what we are gonna overcome, not what we're gonna fail. (Even though I fail at most things in life. Job. Friends. Family. Living.) Even so... Its good to think optimistically instead of negatively.
Hmm... I wasn't expecting this kind of answer. When I listen to this song, I think of no one but the Lord. To me, this song is a song dedicated to God, and facing the ugly truth about what we are, and how badly we will fail. Over, and over, and over again, and how no matter how we may try, we will remind God of the pain and suffering we bring to Him for our inequities.
...expectations of people to be as forgiving when I fail them as I am of them when done me. Anyone showing up to hate on me is too late as I've beat them to it. My stone is too big & heavy to cast at ANYone; redundant to crush me with it.
This song is literally my life in a hand basket This is what I live everyday hell we all do When I fail I take it all out on myself and beat myself up for it It's too bad I'll never be perfect
Perfect or perfection is an illusion of this plane of existence. When you embrace that knowledge, life becomes about learning and evolving into someone or something better. Besides, if you or your soul were perfect... Would that mean that you are like... God? Some believe once the soul perfects that "the source of our creation" will absorb us for eternal peace. Not here to debate, just something to think about.
What I take from the song is that we Christians are always going to miss the mark, and by missing the mark we will remind Jesus of the pain he felt on the cross.
Screw Faith. Screw Religion. Screw Standards. If your not pleasing the Christians because you either too much or not enough, then who gives a damn. You're not preachers. You're not a gospel quire. You're a metal band, artists who are a part of the greatest music genre on earth. Make the music because you have a message and you think your songs sound good, regardless of who you're audience is. If the like it, cool. If they don't, their loss. I'm an agnostic, yet I love Demon Hunter's music. If his music can please someone like me, than Demon Hunter is doing something right. Forget trying to appeal to a scene or a crowd. Just make good music because it's your passion. Your supporters will find you in the end.
I don't think he's doing music to please people or to please Christianity. He was simply stating what the song means. Essentially, the song is about man's depravity, the Christian line he was talking about was an example that he wrote the song for. However, most of Demon Hunter's music is centered around Christian Theology, no lie there. It's very awesome to know that even being an agnostic though, you enjoy their music. They are a legitimate metal band, yet it's clear they have a message that they want to spread
Neigh Slayer My good man, you are a wise soul amongst childish prudes. I agree wholeheartedly. I'm gay and agnostic, two things that are seemingly a world apart from christianity, but I as well love Demon Hunter's music. You provide a perfect mindset that I think becomes lost in the sea of generalized comments between hardcore metal fans and hardcore christians. But you have it right: who cares? Make music to make music, not to satisfy the standards set by the genre you choose and the fans who question your integrity base on their beliefs. I thought I was alone in believing people should just make good music to make good freaking music.
Asking a devoted Christian to not write Christian music/themes/messages or to "screw faith/religion/etc" is like asking a good husband not to care and do loving things to his wife. Being a Christian is not a label, but following, however imperfectly, a Person, Jesus Christ. His point, however, is not about pleasing you or us or other bands, but pleasing God. He's also explaining a fact that there are certain things that non-Christians don't understand about Christianity, though he doesn't say anything about pleasing others.
Alguien que hable español y entienda ingles que me pueda traducir lo que dice Ryan en la entrevista?. No que me cuente de que habla él en la entrevista sino que me traduzca la entrevista en si
Interesting how he mentioned how and who you can fail..and not a single one of those people was God. Not saying that I don't appreciate DH and their music or work, but a reason why I stopped supporting their cd's and such was because of the lyrics. It's dang depressing. I mean, what they speak is often (not always) true, but there's only so much of the Human condition I really need to focus on. I mean, couldn't they at least contrast Man's depravity with God's holiness or somethin? If I could make one request of DH it would be a bit less Man focused and more God focused (Directly focused, not ALLUDED to, that's such a coward's cop out).
That comment is EXACTLY what he is talking about in this video. Sure, he may fail you with his lyrics, and others…but pleasing man can't be his focus. He, like all of us, can only focus on being himself and who the Creator made him to be.
….and i didn't mean that aggressively or that i was attacking you at all. I realize you were just stating why you choose to not listen to them and making your own choices is simply being who you are as well. :-)
That's a cowardly approach imo. Read what you said. He's focusing on himself, i.e. Man. He isn't focusing on God. He's not talking about God. Heck, he's not even ALLUDING to God. Where is the Glory to God in that? Everything a Christian is commanded to do is to be done to give glory to God, that's just Scriptural. To me, it's just a wasted opportunity of giving the fullest glory to God. Sure, DH is glorifying God (if they are all Christians) by playing to the best of their abilities, but they are failing in giving Him glory in their lyrics, which should be the most important part as they chose to include lyrics instead of being a melodic band.
RedTheCrimson did you ever once think that maybe he's a human being and maybe he has human problems that he goes through in life? Sometimes writing music isn't just to please other people (hence the title I Will Fail You), but for closure, or a way to vent. If you want music that is directly focused on God's holiness, go pick up a gospel record.
RedTheCrimson Also, focusing on the human condition and the struggle is something I don't think is focused on enough sometimes from Christian bands. Maybe something generic in some cases, but point being it's an important voice imo, and needs to be appreciated. I can't speak for them really, I don't know them, and I sure won't Judge whether or not they're cowardly, as I don't know them, and it's very irrelevant to my life. You can place all your stress and troubles on God, but that's not easy for everyone ( maybe any1 ) and to understate it, even if that in itself is perhaps ( or isn't ) misguided, is wrong imo. There are other bands that are gospelly anyway though. And it's not to the lens of a Christian exactly, but anyone who can relate. Heck, maybe it gives non-Christians more insight into that struggle, which is necessary too I think. *shrugs*
