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 even has an impact on the larger mass population of music buyers even today. But there were so many other acts around then also. Those bands 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 9th 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

THE EVOLUTION OF CHAOS (2010) MASCOT RECORDS

I remember downloading demo tracks recorded for this album back in 2005! So Heathen's 3rd proper album has been a long time coming. Thus it's all the better to get to say that is has been worth the wait!

'The Evolution Of Chaos' is off to a slow start. That is to say it starts with an ambient intro, with Steve DiGiorgio providing some sitar playing, nonetheless! Approximately 1 1/2 minutes later, and "Dying Season" kicks in. Suddenly it's 1989 all over again, and the Bay Area thrash metal scene is once again at it's height! And it doesn't stop there, as all of the songs on this CD are prime examples of why the Bay Area ruled the thrash metal scene back in the day. It simply was the best metal around! 'The Evolution Of Chaos' totally blows me away, with some of the most relentless thrash metal that actually comes across as inventive and fresh, yet sounding like it was recorded only a minute after the bands second, and last, album back in 1991! Long time member, guitarist Lee Altus, together with newcomer, Kragen Lum, keep hammering out tasteful riffs, licks and solos. In a time when thrash metal seems to be all speed for speeds sake, it is so cool to hear these "old" guys show all the newbies how this music is supposed to be played. Not one riff on this CD comes across as boring or repetitive, and still they keep from writing stuff that sounds too complex. The drumming is driving the songs forth, and nothing is overplayed. I must also applaud the songwriting, as every song takes on it's very own personality, most of them are catchy as heck, and at the same time there is a unity that should be withheld on any album. Most of the compositions are long. Still, nothing sounds stale or forced. I also love how the band divides the 11 minute plus "No Stone Unturned" with an instrumental part in the middle. It doesn't hurt that said part more then reminds me of something off of Metallica's '... And Justice For All' album.

The production on this album also shows that you can record a metal album in 2009 that sounds like it was recorded in 1989, and still not have it sound dated. Every instrument is heard in the mix, and the production compliments the technical thrash metal to a T. The guitars sounds sharp, the drums organic and the voice is angry, yet clean enough to actually hear the lyrics. David White is belching out lyrics about war and the current state of humanity as if there was no tomorrow.

As said, it took 5 years to finish this album. That is probably the reason why the whole package here comes across as good as it does. Even the artwork is outstanding, courtesy of Travis Smith. 'The Evolution Of Chaos' is one of the best, if not the best, thrash metal album to have been recorded after the heyday of the genre. Everything just "clicks" here, and I've finally found another thrash metal album I'm looking forward to listen to over and over again. I am simply lost for words trying to describe how good this CD really is. This is definitely a contender for the #1 spot on my annual top 20 list. So what are you waiting for? Go out and buy it for yourself!

Killer tracks: This album is flawless!

Related Artists:

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