HEATHEN — Breaking the Silence (review)

HEATHEN — Breaking the Silence album cover Album · 1987 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Breaking the Silence" is the debut full-length studio album by US, California, Bay Area based thrash metal act Heathen. The album was released through Combat Records in May 1987. Heathen were formed in 1984 and released the "Pray for Death" demo in April 1986, which subsequently led to their recording contract with Combat Records. The original vinyl version featured 8 tracks, while the CD version features the "Heathen" bonus track.

The music on the album is "classic" US, Bay Area thrash metal albeit with a slightly more melodic sounding vocalist than usual for the genre. The riffs are fast and rhythmic, the drums pounding and there are some very well played lead guitar parts and solos in the music too. The material are well written and relatively catchy. Structurally the tracks are generally a bit formulaic with clear vers/chorus structures that are repeated, but that´s not unusual for the style. However it´s when they band break out of the formula like they do on "Open the Grave" and "World´s End" that they are most interesting. The remaining tracks are very enjoyable too though and even the inclusion of the Sweet cover "Set Me Free" works like a charm.

Heathen are a very well playing unit and the fact that they have a real singer instead of a more regular staccato shouting thrash metal vocalist, provides their music with an extra dimension. It´s mostly Forbidden I´m reminded of, but Heathen do have a sound of their own. "Breaking the Silence" is relatively well produced and overall it´s a pretty great Bay Area styled thrash metal album, and probably what most fans of the genre consider a "classic". A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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