Ryan Curtis Clark (born June 23, 1979) is an American musician who also has performed under the stage name Maven. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

band

Demon Hunter Demon hunter is a demonology-related historic occupation or folkloric character which specializes in killing demons, monsters, or undead creatures. Demon hunter or variations may also refer to: Characters * Demon Hunter (comics), an Atlas/Seab ...

, which he co-founded with his brother, guitarist Don Clark. He was also the frontman for Christian

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band

Training for Utopia Training for Utopia, also stylized as TFU, is an American metalcore band, initially active from 1996 to 2000. History The band first signed with Tooth & Nail Records and was later moved to Solid State Records, the Tooth & Nail imprint that p ...

along with being one of the guitarists for Focal Point. He is featured on Zao's ''The Lesser Lights of Heaven'' DVD and

Mark Salomon Mark Salomon (born 1970) is an American singer best known as the lead singer of the hard rock bands Stavesacre and the Crucified. Other bands in which he has been a key member include the punk rock Outer Circle and rap-oriented Native Son and ...

's Podcast, Never Was.

History

Before Demon Hunter, Clark was a former guitarist of the short-lived

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

Elk Grove, California Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, United States. Located just south of the state capital of Sacramento, it is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. As of the 2020 Census, the population of the city was 176,124. A 2021 C ...

-based

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

band Focal Point. Focal Point started in 1995 with the lineup of Clark, Robbie Imrisek (Vocals), Danny Dinh (Guitar), Kyle Brown (Bass), and Robert Torres (Drums). The band released a 7-inch via Life Sentence Records titled ''Neglected'' and a Studio album via

Tooth and Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today. History Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott back ...

. Clark, then known as Maven, was the second vocalist for

. Don formed the band with the Rob Dennler (vocals), Steve Saxby (bass) and Morley Boyer (drums). Dennler left the band in 1996 and Clark joined the band. The band released an EP, a Split EP, and two studio albums. He and his brother formed

in 2000 and released their debut album late the following year through

Solid State Records Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today. History Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott backe ...

. The group would continue to steadily gain exposure throughout the 2000s. His grandfather, an artist, helped inspire his grandsons' work in graphic design, which is their true day job. Ryan and Don founded

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

-based Asterik Studio with their friend Demetre Arges in 2000. The design studio has created CD packaging, poster art, web design, and/or merchandise design for hundreds of artists including

Liz Phair Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to sta ...

P.O.D. P.O.D. (an initialism for Payable on Death) is an American nu metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval, bassist Mark "Traa" Daniels, lead guitarist Mar ...

, and

The White Stripes The White Stripes were an American Rock music, rock duo formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1997. The group consisted of Jack White (guitar, keyboards, piano, vocals) and Meg White (drums, percussion, vocals). They were a leading group of 2000s indi ...

; however, Clark also notes that he is not a

fine art In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function (such as ...

ist and that such work is typically outsourced. Based on their design experience, Don and Ryan authored a chapter in the book ''New Masters of Photoshop, Volume 2'' (). In 2007, the brothers had announced that they were leaving Asterik to start

Invisible Creature Invisible Creature is an illustration and graphic design studio based in Seattle, Washington. It is run by brothers Don and Ryan Clark and was formed in 2006. Don and Ryan are also the co-founders of Asterik Studio (2000-2008). Clients include: N ...

. Ryan Clark is also art director of

and its parent

Tooth & Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today. History Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott backe ...

. He has twice been nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

for his design work on Norma Jean's ''

O God, the Aftermath ''O' God, the Aftermath'' is the second studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean and was released on March 1, 2005. Like their previous album '' Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child'', ''O God, the Aftermath'' was released on Solid Sta ...

'' and Fair's album ''

The Best Worst-Case Scenario ''The Best Worst-Case Scenario'' is the first album released by Tooth & Nail Records alternative rock band Fair, which features notable musician and record producer Aaron Sprinkle. The album was released on June 6, 2006. In 2007, the album artwo ...

''. He currently is working on three side projects. One such project is with former

Project 86 Project 86 is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The band has released twelve albums, which have collectively sold nearly 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album. In 1998, BEC Recordings ...

guitarist

Randy Torres Randy Torres is an American guitarist, percussionist, keyboardist and background vocalist from Seattle. He has previously played for the bands Project 86, a Christian rock group, and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the b ...

called NYVES. using funding through

Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

. In an interview with Billy Power, Matt Johnson (formerly of

Blenderhead Blenderhead was an American punk rock band signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They released three albums from 1992 to 2001. The band reunited for guitarist Tyler Vander Ploeg's 40th birthday in March 2016. Band members ;Current * Billy Power - v ...

The Out Circuit The Out Circuit is an indie rock/post-hardcore band/project by former Frodus co-frontman Nathan Burke currently signed to Lujo Records. The Out Circuit was originally based in Washington, DC but now resides in Seattle, Washington. History I ...

), said that He, Ryan, Don, and Johnson's brother-in-law, Nathan Burke (formerly of

Frodus Frodus (a.k.a. Frodus Conglomerate International, Frodus Sound Laboratories, FCI, Frodus Escape Plan, Frodus Deposit Insurance Corporation) was an American post-hardcore band formed in 1993 in Washington, D.C. hardcore, Washington, D.C. by voca ...

) and at one point, Sean Ingram ( Coalesce) formed another project which was titled, Deathbed Atheist. The final project is a band with Jason Martin and originally

Steven Dail Steven Dail is a musician who is known for playing bass guitar in several Christian metal bands including Project 86 and White Lighter, and Christian punk band Crash Rickshaw. Other bands he has played in are Starflyer 59, Low & Behold, Inne ...

who later quit, of

Starflyer 59 Starflyer 59 is an American alternative rock band from Riverside, California, that was founded in 1993 by Jason Martin (musician), Jason Martin, brother of Ronnie Martin (musician), Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric. While Jason Martin has written ...

called Low & Behold which released their debut album, ''Uppers'' in 2015 via

Northern Records Northern Records is an independent record label in California. It was founded in 1999 and is distributed in the United States and Canada by RED Distribution ( Sony BMG). Releases See also * List of record labels * RED Distribution RED ...

Bands

Current *

– vocals (2000–present), guitar (2000–2002) * Low & Behold – vocals (2010–present) * NYVES – vocals (2014–present) * Deathbed Atheist – guitar (2000–present) Former * Focal Point – guitar (1995–1997) *

– vocals, guitar (1996–2000)

Discography

Focal Point * ''Neglected EP'' (1996) * ''Suffering of the Masses'' (1996) Training for Utopia *''The Falling Cycle EP'' (1997) *''Plastic Soul Impalement'' (1998) *''Training for Utopia / Zao'' (1998 w/ Zao) *''Throwing a Wrench into the American Music Machine'' (1999) *''Technical Difficulties'' (2004) Demon Hunter *''

'' (2002) *'' Summer of Darkness'' (2004) *''

The Triptych ''The Triptych'' is the third studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, released on October 25, 2005. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle ( Emery, Fair) and mixed by Machine (Lamb of God), ''The Triptych'' had three different album cove ...

'' (2005) *''

Storm the Gates of Hell ''Storm the Gates of Hell'' is the fourth studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, released on November 6, 2007. It is the band's last album to feature Don Clark and Ethan Luck. Touring and promotion Demon Hunter embarked ...

'' (2007) *''

The World Is a Thorn ''The World Is a Thorn'' (also stylized ''The World Is Λ Thorn'') is the fifth studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, which was released March 9, 2010. The album is described by the band as their "heaviest but most melodic" ...

'' (2010) *'' True Defiance'' (2012) *''

Extremist Extremism is "the quality or state of being extreme" or "the advocacy of extreme measures or views". The term is primarily used in a political or religious sense to refer to an ideology that is considered (by the speaker or by some implied shar ...

'' (2014) *'' Outlive'' (2017) *''

War War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...

'' (2019) *''

Peace Peace is a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, and everything that discusses achieving human welfare through justice and peaceful conditions. In a societal sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (suc ...

'' (2019) *''

Songs of Death and Resurrection ''Songs of Death and Resurrection'' is a collection of reworked versions of previously released songs by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, released by Solid State Records on March 5, 2021. The album consists of new studio recordings ...

'' (2021) *''

Exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

'' (2022) Low & Behold *''Blood Red'' (2011) *''Uppers'' (2015) NYVES *''Anxiety'' (2015) *''Pressure (EP)'' (2016)

Guest appearances

As Maven * Zao – ''Training for Utopia / Zao'' (1998) (guest vocals – "Skin Like Winter") As Ryan Clark *

Kutless Kutless is an American Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released multiple studio albums and one live album, '' Live from Portland''. They have sold over 3 million records worldwide. ...

– ''

Sea of Faces ''Sea of Faces'' is the second full-length album released by Christian rock group Kutless, released through BEC Records in 2004. The song "Treason" was once the No. 1 song on ChristianRock.net, and Sea of Faces in the Top 5. The album reache ...

'' (2004) (guest vocals – "Let You In") * Falling Up – '' Crashings'' (2004) (guest vocals – "Jackson 5") *

Anberlin Anberlin is an American alternative rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida, in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band consists of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, ...

– ''

Never Take Friendship Personal ''Never Take Friendship Personal'' is the second studio album by alternative rock band Anberlin, released on February 1, 2005 on Tooth & Nail Records. Its singles were "A Day Late" and "Paperthin Hymn" and music videos have been made of each. "(T ...

'' (2005) (guest vocals – "Never Take Friendship Personal") *

Becoming the Archetype Becoming the Archetype is an American extreme metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999. They have released six albums on Solid State Records. ''Dichotomy'', which was released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United State ...

– '' Terminate Damnation'' (2005) (guest vocals – "Elegy: Deception/Lament/Triumph") *

Advent Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Chri ...

– '' Remove The Earth'' (2008) (guest vocals – "Hanging the Giants") *

– ''

Dichotomy A dichotomy () is a partition of a set, partition of a whole (or a set) into two parts (subsets). In other words, this couple of parts must be * jointly exhaustive: everything must belong to one part or the other, and * mutually exclusive: nothi ...

'' (2008) (guest vocals – "Dichotomy (The Tower)") *

Trenches A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit). In geology, trenches res ...

– ''

The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole ''The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole'' is the debut album by American band Trenches. It was originally titled "950 Times Per Second", possibly as a reference to the rate at which a black hole allegedly spins. Track listing #"Calling" – 3:42 (feat ...

'' (2008) (guest vocals – "Calling") * Sleeping Giant – '' Sons of Thunder'' (2009) (guest vocals – "Army of the Chosen One") *

Nine Lashes Nine Lashes is an American Christian rock band from Birmingham, Alabama formed in 2006. They independently released their first album, ''Escape'', in 2009 before Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch brought them to the attention of Tooth & Nail ...

– '' World We View'' (2012) (guest vocals – "Our Darkest Day") *

Impending Doom Impending Doom is an American Christian deathcore band from Riverside, California. The group has released six full-length studio albums and are currently a four piece with lead vocalist Brook Reeves as one of the two original remaining member ...

– ''

Baptized In Filth ''Baptized in Filth'' is the fourth studio album by American Christian deathcore band Impending Doom. It was released on March 13, 2012 through the eOne Music label. The lead single released for the album is "For the Wicked", which had a music v ...

'' (2012) (guest vocals – "My Light Unseen") *

Living Sacrifice Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1989. The band has released eight studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren John ...

– ''

Ghost Thief ''Ghost Thief'' is the eighth studio album by the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. It is their second album produced by Jeremiah Scott. Writing and recording The band toured in support of their prior album, ''The Infinite Order'', for thre ...

'' (2013) (guest vocals – "Screwtape") * Monsterns – (2013) (guest vocals – "Monster Life") * Shonlock – '' A Night to Remember'' (2014) (guest vocals – "Don't Play") *

Five Finger Death Punch Five Finger Death Punch, also abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2005. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, rhythm guitarist Zoltan Bathory, lead g ...

– The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Volume 1 & 2 Ultimate Collector's Box Set (2014) (guest vocals – "Weight Beneath My Sin" (alternate version)) * Sleeping Giant – ''I Am'' (2018) (guest vocals – "Fly. Fight. Crow.") *

– ''Enter the Ghost'' (2018) (guest vocals – "Book of the Void") * Set the Sun – ''In Absentia, Vol. 1'' (2021) (guest vocals – "Invisible") *

– ''

Children of the Great Extinction ''Children of the Great Extinction'' is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album was released on August 26, 2022, through Solid State. It is the band's first album in ten years since their hiatus, and ...

'' (2022) (guest vocals – "The Ruins") * HolyName – ''HolyName'' (2023) (guest vocals – "The Sect") * Spoken - ''Reflection'' (2024) (guest vocals - "Sleeper") * Set the Sun – ''Falling Apart'' (single) (2025) (guest vocals - "Falling Apart")

List of design works

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Ryan 1979 births Living people American graphic designers American heavy metal singers American performers of Christian music Christian metal musicians 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers Demon Hunter members People from Kern County, California Rock musicians from California Metalcore singers