Music: Thrash
Country: USA
Web site: www.myspace.com/heathenmetal
Cool Songs: Intro/Dying Season, No Stone Unturned, A Heros Welcome
Never getting the recognition of legendary Frisco Bay thrash acts TESTAMENT, METALLICA and EXODUS, HEATHEN has still proved its value as one of this vaunted scenes heavy weights. Emerging amongst a metropolis of thrash bands who wanted to be the next METALLICA, the group didnt get the recognition deserved for the caliber of metal they play.
HEATHEN only released two full lengthsBreaking the Silence and Victims of Deceptionboth to major metal labels and then said their farewell. With the resurgence of thrash, though, the group has reformed after twenty years to bring us The Evolution of Chaos.
Recorded and produced by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, SKINLAB), The Evolution of Chaos offers a thick-yet-clear sound indicative of late 80s and early 90s American thrash. The group makes their sound even fuller through guest musicians providing gang choruses.
In addition to the bands own members providing chorus lines, Jon Allen and Steve DiGiorgio of SADUS and northern Cali guitar god and HEATHEN alum Terry Lauderdale give gang choruses. DiGiorgio also plays the sitar on the albums dream-like intro and his signature fretless bass on No Stone Unturned. Other guest musician highlights include EXODUS guitar shredder Gary Holt trading off leads with Kragen Lum near the end of Control by Chaos.
Stylistically, HEATHEN shares aspects of both the German and American thrash scene. Just think METALLICA meets DESTRUCTION. Fade Away and Dying Season feature the busy guitar work of DESTRUCTION, while leads and pounding grooves from Master of Puppets/Ride the Lightning-era METALLICA define No Stone Unturned. The later track marks the albums creative peak. At over eleven-minutes in length, No Stone Unturned features many melodic leads and an amazing harmonious break. This break recalls the melodies found on older METALLICA songs such as Sanitarium and the instrumental Orion. DiGiorgios trademark fretless bass defines this part.
Other than seeing the name HEATHEN listed in Roadrunner catalogue inserts for old cassette tapes, my experience with this band is limited to The Evolution of Chaos. With The Evolution of Chaos, HEATHEN will hopefully put their name back in front of serious thrashers. It may lead to metal heads once again discovering this shamefully overlook book. I know it will for me!
note: 8/10
Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Dying Season
3. Control by Chaos
4. No Stone Unturned
5. Arrows of Agony
6. Fade Away
7. A Hero's Welcome
8. Undone
9. Bloodkult
10. Red Tears of Disgrace
11. Silent Nothingness
Total playing time 01:08:34
Line-up
David White – Vocals
Lee Altus – Guitar
Kragen Lum – Guitar
Jon Torres – Bass
Darren Minter – Drums
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