It's great to see an album of this nature emerging in 2010 (see Forbidden's 'Omega Wave' also). Heathen, back in the day, were a pretty much ignored but highly talented thrash act. Competition was so fierce in the late '80s, what with bands such as Exodus, Testament, Overkill, etc, etc, vying for a place in the premier thrash league. However, the top thrash acts, whether underground or of some fame, prove time and time again that they have something in their blood which cannot be taken away or easily mimicked despite the slight thrash resurgence of current bands pretending it's still 1987. 'The Evolution...' runs for over an hour and doesn't let up from first to last note. Yep, it's old school thrash but these guys have matured so much that what they do just comes so naturally, a mega chug here, an acoustic intro there, those bellowed vocals and chanted choruses, and yet despite the familiarity you just can't get enough of it. 'No Stone Unturned' moshes through the speakers and into your lounge, eleven skull-cracking minutes of tight thrash, hinting at Metallica's masterful 'Ride The Lightning'. The vocals of a band like Heathen don't need to stand out, 'Arrows Of Agony' is a prime example of how classic thrash works and how separate segments of a band are melted together to form such blistering dynamics. 'A Hero's Welcome' rises above all others with its dramatic yet serene opening chords which drift into a mid-paced rocker that brings to mind the cold steel of Metal Church at their finest. 'Red Tears Of Disgrace' is equally enthralling and ascends into a pummelling crescendo, and as seven-minute 'Silent Nothingness' brings the album to a close one can only admire Heathen for dredging up the past and yet somehow giving it a future. Evolution indeed...Wednesday 26 January 2011
Heathen - The Evolution Of Chaos (2010)
It's great to see an album of this nature emerging in 2010 (see Forbidden's 'Omega Wave' also). Heathen, back in the day, were a pretty much ignored but highly talented thrash act. Competition was so fierce in the late '80s, what with bands such as Exodus, Testament, Overkill, etc, etc, vying for a place in the premier thrash league. However, the top thrash acts, whether underground or of some fame, prove time and time again that they have something in their blood which cannot be taken away or easily mimicked despite the slight thrash resurgence of current bands pretending it's still 1987. 'The Evolution...' runs for over an hour and doesn't let up from first to last note. Yep, it's old school thrash but these guys have matured so much that what they do just comes so naturally, a mega chug here, an acoustic intro there, those bellowed vocals and chanted choruses, and yet despite the familiarity you just can't get enough of it. 'No Stone Unturned' moshes through the speakers and into your lounge, eleven skull-cracking minutes of tight thrash, hinting at Metallica's masterful 'Ride The Lightning'. The vocals of a band like Heathen don't need to stand out, 'Arrows Of Agony' is a prime example of how classic thrash works and how separate segments of a band are melted together to form such blistering dynamics. 'A Hero's Welcome' rises above all others with its dramatic yet serene opening chords which drift into a mid-paced rocker that brings to mind the cold steel of Metal Church at their finest. 'Red Tears Of Disgrace' is equally enthralling and ascends into a pummelling crescendo, and as seven-minute 'Silent Nothingness' brings the album to a close one can only admire Heathen for dredging up the past and yet somehow giving it a future. Evolution indeed...
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