JesusfreakHideout.com: Highlighting 2017 Part One -- Looking Ahead To New Music In The First Half of 2017

For our 11th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Each list contains 10 artists/releases for a total of 20 in total for 2017. So, without further ado, we give you Highlighting First-Half 2017!

1 of 10

#1. Demon Hunter
Outlive

Release Date: March 31, 2017

One of heavy metal's finest is back at it and I expect nothing but another solid album full of double bass, gut-wrenching growls, sorrowful ballads, and something that makes my neck sore.
- Kevin Hoskins

Demon Hunter's last outing, Extremist, wasn't as extreme as some fans were hoping it would be. In the time since that release, lead vocalist Ryan Clark has participated in two electronica side projects, NYVES and Lo & Behold. Demon Hunter's latest single, "Cold Winter Sun," sounds promising, but it remains to be seen how much electronic influence may pop up on Outlive.
- Nicole Marie Vacca

Demon Hunter has set a superb standard when it comes to metal music in the Christian realm. No matter if it's full-on metal with blast beats and beastly growls, or much softer and introspective ballads, Demon Hunter has it all. While Extremist was somewhat disappointing to me on a personal level, it does not detract from my excitement for Outlive. I can't wait to see what these metal veterans have to share this time around and I'm even more excited that they've topped JFH's most anticipated list for 2017.
- Michael Weaver

With over 14 years of achievement and consistency under their belts, another Demon Hunter release is understandably stirring. Now, on their eighth studio album, Outlive seems to earn its name. How many great Christian hard rock acts have come and gone in Demon Hunter's lifetime? This time around, the Seattle-based five-piece has elected to utilize PledgeMusic to keep fans closer to the creative process than ever. Somehow, incredibly, this band still has a spark.
- Jeremy Barnes

Demon Hunter has been the poster-child of quality metal since the release of their eponymous self-titled debut. 2014's Extremist saw the band adopting a softer, more dynamic approach to their songwriting that resulted in their most complete album so far. Despite the debut single for Outlive ticking every box of their signature sound, I've been somewhat underwhelmed with what I've heard. Still, anything new from Demon Hunter is a truly exciting thought nonetheless.
- Lucas Munachen

It's hard to imagine the metal scene without these guys. They have defined themselves as the ultimate listening experience, combining classical music and dark metal in addition to Ryan Clark's melodic vocals with some screaming at times.
- Wayne Myatt

I've been a proud Demon Hunter fan since their first demo on This Is Solid State, Vol. 3. The band has evolved over the years, but their sound has only gotten better, and Outlive will surely be a highlight in an often boring metalcore scene.
- Scott Fryberger

Visit our Demon Hunter page for more information about them...

2017 Countdown: January to June

10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Here are a few other artists that made our staff's individual lists that didn't quite make the top 10... Ellie Holcomb, The Brilliance, Family Force 5, Stavesacre, Jonathan Thulin, Krum & more! Also a special shout out to Lecrae, who's recent announcement that his newest album would be releaced in the first half of 2017 occurred after we had alreay voted.