This is their best album since Outlive. War, Peace, and Exile (especially Exile) were
descending in quality and originality. Exile felt like a very far fall down the hill that
the band had leaped to the top of early in their careers (Self-Titled through The Triptych)
and later refining the best parts of themselves (True Defiance and Extremist). War and Peace
left me worried about the band's recent trajectory. Once Exile was released, I had sadly
assumed this was the official beginning of the end for the band's great consistency.
However, "There Was A Light Here" is a return to form and feels a bit of a marriage of
Outlive and Extremist. The record is not up to par with either parent in this comparison, as
some filler tracks could have been removed (Breaking Through Me and Reflected), but there
are some great moments in this record that showcase the band still recognizes who they are,
what made them great.
A special note that the album's title track and last song on the record, There Was A Light
Here, is now on my top 5 list with The Tide Began to Rise, Deteriorate, The Gauntlet, and I
Am a Stone, as one of the band's best ballads. Other favorites from the record are I'm Done,
The Pain in Me Is Gone, My Place In The Dirt, and Overwhelming Closure.
Overall, I am very excited by this release. It is not their best work, nor is it their
worst. It will ideally fit somewhere in the middle of the band's discography, but it is the
best release by Demon Hunter in 8 years. |
