SilentScream213 A mesmerizing album crafted with intense care and attention to detail. Every single instrument is easily audible, and each are following their own patterns, adding to the main mix without trailing mindlessly behind a set melody or rhythm. While the music isn’t incredibly technical, it is definitely rather progressive, and include a lot of changing qualities that sustain interest throughout the 13 track album (that was A LOT of songs for a metal band in ’86.)

I don’t agree with the Power Metal label on this one, as only the speedy Nightmare has the chops to back that title up. However, it’s very evident this album fosters a genuine medieval feel to it, from the lush but cheesy keys down to the slow gallop riffs that certainly would be Power Metal if played at double speed. It’s amazing how melodic this album is, and sounds a lot like what Savatage would later become (Savatage themselves popularized the whole piano and operatic elements in metal, but these guys were doing it way earlier!).

Overall, a fantastically complete package with no weak points, plenty of variety and precise craftsmanship.

UMUR "One Small Voice" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US Power/heavy metal act Heir Apparent. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in June 1989. It´s the successor to "Graceful Inheritance" from 1986 and features a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as lead vocalist Paul Davidson has been replaced by Steve Benito and keyboard player Michael Jackson has been added to the lineup as a fifth member. "Graceful Inheritance" generally received positive reviews at the time of release, but as it took the band three years to release "One Small Voice", their window of opportunity had closed, and they had a hard time fully capitalizing on their otherwise promising career start. Heir Apparent split-up in 1990.

The music on "Graceful Inheritance (1986)" is melodic US power/heavy metal, with the occasional (although very rare) nod towards progressive metal. Some of the elements of that style is continued on "One Small Voice", but they have turned up the progressive part of their sound considerably, making this album a melodic US power/progressive metal release. Having included a permanent keyboard player, the presence of keyboards are obviously more dominant in the soundscape than on the predecessor, but they aren´t the focus of the music. That would still be the hard rocking riffs, melodic solos, the pounding rhythm section, and the helium high pitched vocals by Steve Benito. Benito has a strong voice and a convincing delivery. Some of his vocal sections are crazy high pitched and technically very difficult to perform, but he pulls it off with ease.

So the musicianship is on a high level on all posts, but unfortunately the songwriting doesn´t quite follow suit. There are both weak moments and strong moments on "One Small Voice", but the album is overall fragmented and inconsistent, and it´s a bit hard to know exactly what it is Heir Apparent are aiming at. The sound production is also a bit thin and doesn´t really help the compositions shine, but neither the songwriting nor the sound production are downright awful, just not as interesting or as well sounding, as they could have been. "One Small Voice" features 10 original tracks and a cover of "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel. A cover which Heir Apparent manage to put their own spin on, but still it´s nothing too special.

Heir Apparent are as mentioned obviously a well playing band, and new lead vocalist Steve Benito is a welcome addition to the group, but upon conclusion "One Small Voice" is simply a bit directionless and unremarkable. It´s progressive but not full-on progressive, and it´s not the type of progressive metal, which would probably satisfy the Dream Theater loving progressive metal fan, but rather those who enjoy the more melodic oriented material by 80s Queensrÿche. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "The View from Below" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US power/progressive metal act Heir Apparent. The album was released through No Remorse Records in October 2018. Heir Apparent formed as far back as 1983 and released their debut album "Graceful Inheritance" in 1986, to a generally positive reception and more than one raving review in the contemporary metal press. It took the band three years to release their sophomore album "One Small Voice (1989)", and unfortunately for the band their window of opportunity had closed, and they disbanded in 1990. They had a short reunitement in 1998, and reunited again in 2000 playing sporadic shows. They recorded a demo in 2003 but other than that and a couple of compilation releases, there has been no new output from Heir Apparent since the release of "One Small Voice (1989)", making "The View from Below" the band´s first studio release in 29 years.

Quite a few things have happened on the metal scene in those years and of course also within the Heir Apparent camp. Naturally and not surprisingly there have been a couple of lineup changes since the release of "One Small Voice (1989)". Lead vocalist Steve Benito has been replaced by Will Shaw and keyboard player Michael Jackson has been replaced by Op Sakiya. The remaining part of the lineup who recorded the predecessor are bassist Derek Peace, guitarist Terry Gorle, and drummer Ray Schwartz (who in the band´s original run went under the name Ray Black).

"Graceful Inheritance (1986)" was a decent quality US power/heavy metal release, while "One Small Voice (1989)" took the band´s music in a slightly more progressive direction. The material on "The View from Below" is a continuation of the US power/progressive metal sound of the predecessor, but it´s generally a far more intense, dark and heavy release than anything the band have released before. Shaw is a more than capable replacement for Benito, and he delivers a strong and passionate vocal performance throughout the album. He is able to hit the high notes, but also capable of singing more raw vocals (not extreme by any means of course).

Keyboards still have an atmosphere enhancing place in the soundscape (sometimes providing the music with an epic feel), but it´s not the type of album where any instrument stand out above the others. All instruments and vocals are well balanced in the mix. It´s a well sounding, professional, and powerful production job, which suits the material perfectly.

The material on the 8 track, 45:05 minutes long album are well written, featuring strong vocal melodies and catchy moments. It´s predominantly slow- to mid-paced music, but "Savior" is a slightly faster-paced track, which fully showcases that Heir Apparent also master that type of musical expression. In their 1980s heyday Heir Apparent were often mentioned along artists like Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory, and Fates Warning, but it´s especially the former mentioned and their mid- to late-1980s output, which is a valid reference. "The View from Below" features some of the same almost futuristic features as Queensrÿche´s 1986 "Rage for Order" album. Upon conclusion it´s a brilliant release on almost all parameters possible. Not genre defining nor pushing the boundaries of US power/progressive metal, but it´s a high quality release deserving a 4 star (80%) rating.

UMUR "Graceful Inheritance" is the debut full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Heir Apparent. The album was released through Black Dragon Records in January 1986. Heir Apparent were formed in 1983 and released a 1984 and a 1985 demo tape, before being signed by French independent label Black Dragon Records for the release of "Graceful Inheritance". "Graceful Inheritance" generally received positive reviews at the time of release, but as it took the band three years to release their sophomore studio album "One Small Voice (1989)", their window of opportunity had closed, and they never managed to fully capitalize on their good career start. Heir Apparent split-up in 1990.

It´s too bad, because they hit at just the right time with just the right music style. A type of US power/heavy metal with clear references to artists like Crimson Glory, Fates Warning, and especially Queensrÿche, who were all fairly popular contemporary artists (some more popular than others...). The material on "Graceful Inheritance" is in the melodic end of the US power/heavy metal scale and the tracks are generally quite accessible and hook laden. Hard rocking riffs, melodic lead guitar work, a solid rhythm section, and a high pitched and clear vocal performance by Paul Davidson in front. High level performances on all posts.

"Graceful Inheritance" features a clear and detailed sound production, which suits the material well, although by today´s standards it lacks some bottom end heaviness. While the quality of the material is generally high, Heir Apparent aren´t the most unique sounding act on the scene, and "Graceful Inheritance" therefore doesn´t stand out as much as the best releases fromt the contemporary artists mentioned above. It´s a solid release, featuring high level musicianship, and a professional and well sounding production, but a more distinct sound could have elevated the material to an even higher level. As it is "Graceful Inheritance" is still a quality debut album though and it´s recommendable to fans of the above mentioned artists. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.