Hailing out of Sonora, San Francisco, CA during the Bay Area Thrash explosion, Heathen were inspired by '70s hard rock, NWOBHM and the first wave of Thrash Metal. Heathen was formed in late 1984 by Russian-born Lee Altus (guitars) and Carl Sacco (drums). Vocalist Sam Kress and guitarist Jim Sanguinetti joined the duo, and this primordial version of Heathen played one gig in April 1985. Within the year Sanguinetti (who moved on to Mordred) was replaced with Dave White (Blind Illusion) and Doug Piercy (Anvil Chorus, Control). Eric Wong (Specter) was enlisted as Heathen's first bass player. This revamped lineup debuted at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco on February 9, 1986. In April of the same year the classic self-produced demo 'Pray For Death' was recorded. This demo paved the way for the band's contract with Combat Records, which released Heathen's debut record, the Ronnie Montrose produced 'Breaking The Silence', in 1987. By the time of recording the band had replaced Eric Wong with Mike "Yaz" Jastremski (Griffin). A cover of Sweet's "Set Me Free" was released as a single, and it's video was on heavy rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. 'Breaking The Silence' went on to sell close to 100,000 copies worldwide. Carl Sacco was replaced by Darren Minter (Dissident Aggressor), and a headlining tour across America followed. In late 1988 Dave White was briefly replaced with Exodus's Paul Baloff, and Mike Jastremski left the band soon after to form Pigs. The following year White returned, and Heathen gigged with a rotating bass slot, including Vern McElroy and Manny Bravo. In 1991 Heathen's sophomore record 'Victims Of Deception' was issued on Roadracer Records. Marc Biedermann (Blind Illusion) played bass on the record as a guest (because the position had not been filled) and Thaen Rasmussen (Anvil Chorus) also did some lead work on "Prisoners of Fate" and "Guitarmony", which he co-wrote with Doug Piercy. In the summer of 1991 Heathen embarked on their first European tour, opening for Sepultura. Soon after returning home Heathen were to begin rehearsing for their West Coast tour when Randy Laire and his girlfriend Mya were involved in a fatal car accident. After grieving their deaths, the band began a search to fill the vacant bass spot. Ohio native Jason Viebrooks was recruited. Then Doug Piercy was replaced by Ira Black (Chris Caffery). The band started recording what was to be an EP including covers from the likes of Queen, Thin Lizzy, Sweet Savage, Tygers of Pan Tang, as well as an original tune. It was a tribute to their departed band mate, and to David's brother Jeffrey, who also passed away while the band was in Europe. Thaen Rasmussen also was included in this project. Unfortunately, these recordings were not finished at the time. During the years that followed Lee Altus sought an opportunity cutting a few records with German industrial monsters Die Krupps. Dave White briefly fronted Bay Area locals Inner Threshold. Ira Black joined Vicious Rumors and Jason Viebrooks went on to Dave Lombardo's Grip Inc. Darren Minter played on one Die Krupps record, and then later on with Soul Motor and Sideswipe. Heathen seemed a distant memory until, ironically, unfortunate circumstances heralded their return. In the summer of 2001 they regrouped with most of the 1992 line-up (with Mike "Yaz" Jastremski back), and took part in Chuck Billy's Thrash Of The Titans, to help raise funds for the Testament front man's cancer treatment. The concert was a great success, drawing fans from all over the world. Soon after Heathen was invited to play in Germany for the 2002 Wacken Open Air festival. They received great reviews and had been re-energized. Ending the year of 2003, the band went back in to the studio with co-producer Rob Beaton to finish the unfinished EP material, as well as adding their four-song 'Opiate of the Masses' demo, which includes tracks from the 'Victims of Deception' album. All of this material was released in 2004 under the name 'Recovered'.

BREAKING THE SILENCE (1987, 1999) CENTURY MEDIA

Living in the bay area of San Francisco during the early 80's most have been like being inside a heavy metal Mecca! The whole thrash metal scene revolved around what was happening there (at least the US scene anyway). Many a band made it big, and 1 of them has an impact in the larger mass population of music buyers even today. But there were so many other acts around then. The bands that didn't sell millions of albums, but still created the thrash and speed metal we all love so much. Heathen was such an act. They never got even close to selling as many albums as the "Big Four", but still they are enjoying a cult following even today. 'Breaking The Silence' was the bands debut album, released on Relativity/Combat (US) and Music For Nations (Europe) in 1987. And the album is chock full of melodic thrash metal. They could just as well be the blueprint band for the Bay Area sound; razor sharp, attacking guitars, abrasive yet with melodic qualities in the vocal department, and a steady drum and bass background. But this is not speed for speed sake, because we also get plenty of hooks, breaks and other elements that create diversity and balance. Killer guitar-solos are a given too, of course. By today's standards the production is far from flawless. But if you ask me, I'll take the raw and energized sound of 'Breaking The Silence' over many of the clinically overproduced albums recorded nowadays. In truth Heathen never stood back to any of their better know contemporaries. Much like Testament, Heathen also got onto the scene a year or so too late. They could, or at least should, have been as big as any of these other acts, but somehow fell a little bit through. I guess their biggest problem was holding together a steady line-up, thus having trouble in recording a follow-up to this classic debut. The choice of making their cover of Sweet's "Set Me Free" did gain them some radio-airplay, and the video was shown on MTV, but how can this kind of gimmick help sell a thrash metal band in the long run? What kind of fan base do you gather if that is your most known song? 'Breaking The Silence' did sell close to 100,000 copies worldwide, and in 1999 Century Media reissued it. The original vinyl version only had 8 tracks. But this CD version also includes the 9nth track, "Heathen", as well as all 4 songs from the bands first demo, 'Pray For Death' from 1986. 'Breaking The Silence' might very well be one of the best thrash metal album you've never heard.

Killer tracks: Death By Hanging, Goblins Blade, Breaking The Silence, Worlds End

Related Artists:

Vicious Rumors, Lääz Rockit, Exodus, Chris Caffery, Metal Church, Hirax