Exile is the eleventh studio album by American
Christian metal band
Demon Hunter, released through their self-founded record label, Weapons MFG, and the band's first
concept album. It was announced for release on September 9, 2022,[9] then delayed to October 28, 2022,[10] due to supply chain issues.[11]
Background
Six singles were released ahead of Exile, including “Silence the World”, “Defense Mechanism”, and “Godless”, featuring vocals from
Tom S. Englund (
Evergrey) and
Max Cavalera (ex-
Sepultura,
Soulfly),[12] and a guitar solo by
Richie Faulkner (
Judas Priest) respectively.[13] It marks Faulkner's first studio recording since suffering an aortic rupture and dissection and subsequent 10-hour surgery.[14] Among the track listing was a new recording of the song "Praise the Void", previously released in Demon Hunter's acoustic album Songs of Death and Resurrection a year prior. In conjunction with the album, a four-part comic series written by Ryan Clark was released, and in September the band embarked on an anniversary tour
celebrating 20 years since their official debut.[15]
Chart performance
The album sold 6,400 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 200 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 of Top Christian Albums, No. 3 of Top Hard Rock Albums, No. 3 of Top Independent Albums, No. 4 of Top Rock Albums and No. 9 of Top Albums Sales.[16]