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An underrated American Thrash Metal band that originated in San Francisco in 1984 and quickly released their first self-produced demo tape in 1986, allowing the band, plagued by ongoing lineup changes, to join the metal scene of the Frisco Bay Area. More than a band, we find ourselves facing a growing thrash scene's family tree, a hotel where revolving doors heat up with the transit of various members and affiliates; two albums in nearly ten years of life, along with the participation of Paul Baloff (ex-Exodus) in the demo pre-"Victims Of Deception", place the band in the annals of Thrash.
The original singer Sam Kress (R.I.P.) hands the mic to the talented David White – Godfrey (ex-Blind Illusion) and bassist Eric Wong (future Unjust), after playing on the demo "Pray For Death," moves aside for Mike "Yaz" Jastremsky (R.I.P.). The full crew included drummer Carl Sacco (ex-Metal Church) and the two axes Lee Altus-Doug Piercy. In May 1987, they released this debut album "Breaking The Silence," produced by guitarist Ronnie Montrose, characterized by a dark yet striking cover: the head of a poor fellow about to shimmer among ominous skyscrapers. Perhaps "Too Much Information" is crossing his brain, as The Police would say, or perhaps it's Heathen breaking the silence, authors of a debut work with both light and shadow, underscored by a decent yet also ambiguous production, tied to the thrash's stylistic features (with a scratchy and compressed sound like a snowball) but also infected by classic Heavy Metal. Heathen have a liking for both Metal Church and the Bay area sound of Exodus. In fact, maybe they play Speed Metal and I just didn't notice: labels sometimes explain everything and sometimes explain nothing. The drums have a full sound, a fast yet also deceitful pace: Carl Sacco is a steamroller but lacks imagination, relegating between the spirit world the double-kick flares of Lombardo-Benante;the guitar phrases feel pressed, fermented like grapes in vats, but aren't properly squeezed as happens in albums of contemporary bands: probably Ronnie Montrose, a respectable musician, finds himself in a context not congenial to him to guide a debuting band in the 1987 thrash wave.
The opening track "Death By Hanging" tears the veil on the musical coordinates of the group: rising riffs, military march drumming, and a sprinkle of melody surfacing here and there, all overshadowed by David's high voice (influenced by Bruce Dickinson and tracing Joey Belladonna), marking indelibly all the album tracks; the scaffolded, rogue lyrics stand out, signed by Ed Bull (former singer of Control, Doug Piercy's band in 1980): the track, lifted from a demo tape, is the dowry Doug keeps from the old band. In "Goblin Blade", the lyrics are more allegorical and fantastic:
"Walking along the path of no return/evil creeps living underground/haunting the dreams of the many men who dared to cross the bridge of sin/I am the one who lives to tell the story of the ancient impaler demon/the killer of many who brought terror to the land/the mythical threat, eventually I will kill it/The Goblin sits under the rocks/waiting in the shadow when the bridge is blocked/but as men try to force the barricades/they will witness the Goblin's blade..."
The name, not the story, recalls Spider-Man's enemy who inflicted damage while traveling on the glider. Fantasy and savoir-faire: the epic introduction culminates in the album's most beautiful refrain, to whistle or continually sing. After these appetizing fruits, we discover that the musicians are excellent but fail to organize their viciousness, do not structure that tap dance of sonic violence that elevates the tracks to thrash evergreen status like "Angel Of Death" or "Battery" or "Infinite". The flame revives with the cover "Set Them Free" by Sweet, the '70s hard rockers, cleverly chosen as a single, a shaky launching pad for the album chosen by rummaging through others' sack of flour. The other well-wrought piece, dense with funeral pathos, is the lengthy "Open The Grave", with notable tempo changes and a dark yet socially critical text; the intro was later cloned by Defiance in 1989. Let's also not forget the song "Save The Skull," with splatter and barbaric lyrics, which closes the album decisively. "Pray For Death" stands out for its pessimistic and ever-relevant lyrics, curated by David:
"Conquering the ages with their endless schemes/trading the future of tomorrow's men/ultra technology at our awakening who will make the last mistake?/ Billions are spent on our defense/ to protect our freedom on material welfare/ If we want to survive, we must stay united/ divide the wealth to feed everyone/ The future is blind in the eyes of politicians /They are annihilating us with their nuclear aims/ when they see the light it will be too late/ they fill our heads with lies about the economy/ they refuse to listen to the people's cries/ The only choice left is to pray for death to come/ The government builds killing machines/ uses our money against our will/ when they build a tool of peace then the future will be simpler/what about the churches and their wealth? is there a hidden treasure under their bells/ are those solid gold temples a symbol of divinity? /This orgy of wealth is a disgusting vision/ Organized religion is deaf, mute, and blind/ they think they see through God's eyes /it will be too late when they finally see the light/ if the Pope sold his silk clothes, he could provide milk to the hungry/ leaving no reason to pray for death to come"
The torch of speed stays well lit, even in "World End", introduced by a rustic arpeggio and David's voice, then taking off at a gallop as in the title track, with a warlike beginning, where they return to beating the skins greatly but without a miracle. Imagine how the pieces would be if Rob Beaton were behind the console and Darren Minter on the drums: a whole different story. It was also reissued with the addition of the track "Heathen" and the 1986 demo "Pray For Death". Heathen is part of the American conestoga of bands traveling to the promised thrash land, but before them arrive the major bands Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Exodus who churn out their masterpieces and also in circulation we find Metal Church with "The Dark" and Sanctuary with "Refuge Denied." A fierce competition sees Heathen succumb: they lack the right producer, a record label willing to invest, musicians willing to be patient. Time passes inexorably, and our heroes will miss the train to success.
However, "Breaking The Silence" sells 100,000 copies worldwide (www.artistsandbands.org/intervista with Darren Minter) and, although it's a pleasant work, it remains a small luxury heavy/thrash corvette that sails the Pacific Ocean to reach the Bay Area loaded with insights in its hold. With the late follow-up "Victims Of Deception" (1991), Heathen will achieve the reflections of the debut with imagination, inventiveness, and style, turning into a Thrash battleship stranded in the Bay Area. A true shame. Four stars for the talent of the Godfrey-Altus-Piercy trio.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Goblin's Blade (04:33)
Walking the path of no return
Lurks the evil that lives within
Shattered dreams of many men
Who tried to cross the bridge of sin
I'm the one who lives to tell the tale
Of the mythical demon that once impaled
The murders of many brought fear to the land
This mythical menace, I will slay in the end
The Goblin would sit beneath the rocks
Waiting in the shadows as the bridge was blocked
As the men would try to break the barricade
They would witness the Goblins Blade
It was not a pretty sight to watch them die
But I was young and I feared for my life
Their throats were cut at the flick of his wrist
And as they fell he said with a hiss
"I'm the keeper of the bridge of souls
And underneath is where the bloodriver flows
So never try to cross my path, for if you do
I'll split you in half"
The Goblin sits beneath the rocks
Waiting in the shadows as the bridge was blocked
As the men would try to break the baracade
They would witness the Goblins Blade
Walking the path of no return
Lurks the evil that lives within
Shattered dreams of many men
Who tried to cross the bridge of sin
I'm the one who lives to tell the tale
Of the mystical demon that once impaled
The murders of many brought fear to the land
This mystical menace, I shall slay in the end
The power is great within his sword
And the only way to defeat him
Is to steal his source, leaving him weak
I shall show no remorse
I shall take his last breath, with his own sword
04 Pray for Death (03:42)
Conquering the ages with their endless plan
Threatening the future of the new world man
Ultra technology in our wake
Who will make the last mistake
Billions ar espent for our defence
To protect our freedom at our expense
For us to exist we must live as one
Divide the wealth to feed everyone
The future is blind in the political eye
Bringing us down with their nuclear guides
It'll be too late when they finally see the light
Filling our heads with economical lies
Refusing to hear the people cry
Leaving no choise but to pray for death
The government builds machines that kill
And they use out money against our will
When will they build a means of peace
And maybe the future can live with ease
And what about the churches and all their wealth
There's an unseen fortune under their belts
Are golden temples a symbol of God's way
This horde of wealth is a sickening display
Organized religion is deaf, dumb and blind
They think they see through God�s eyes
It�ll be too late when they finally see the light
If the pope would sell his robes of silk
He could provide the hungry milk
Leaving no reason to pray for death
They feed us the future through subliminal blinds
But we know the stories and we know the rhymes
So look in the mirror and see the lines
For it's just a picture seen through their eyes, eyes, eyes
05 Set Me Free (03:46)
Rack, ball and chain
Feel just the same
Hands on the wall
Maybe your just playing games
Set me free
Hung by a hound,
Hanging around
Is this for real
I don't know when
I'll be found
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Taken by force
By you of course
Far from my bed
Maybe I'll feel better dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Fire in my brain
Burn me insane
Making your mark
Don't leave me here in the dark
Set me free
Call me a saint
That's what I ain't
Inside my head
I know I'd rather be dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
06 Breaking the Silence (05:50)
Screaming for sanction with every breath
Break through the silence as you enter your quest
Misguided fortune, lost in your fear
When will you see what is so clear
Will we stand still and watch the blood spill
Until the blood is our own
The ones who decieve, lie that they are true
But where are they when you fall
We�re breaking the silence
So hear what I say
Just listen in silence, it�s the only way
Clinging transparent, your energy they�ll drain
They�ll help you down and pick your vein, yes they will
Unstable future, your face in the mirror
When will you face all taht you fear
Will we stand still and watch the blood spill
Until the blood is our own
The ones who decieve, lie that they are true
But where are they when you fall
If you break the silence
There�s a price to pay
You must take an alliance
It�s the only way
Screaming for sanction with every breath
Break through the silence as you enter your quest
Misguided fortune, lost in your fear
When will you see what is so clear
Will we stand still and watch the blood spill
Until the blood is our own
The ones who decieve, lie that they are true
But where are they when you fall
If you break the silence
There�s a price to pay
You must take an alliance
It�s the only way
If you break the silence
There�s a price to pay
You must take an alliance
It�s the only way
Break the silence
Break the silence
07 World's End (07:06)
Beyond in time the Astron glows
Tune into your inner past
The intervals of light
Between two successive nights
The mind predicts the maze
Cold and dense, but fast as light
Mercury, the messenger stands in flight
Sent by the gods to bring us the news
A methane blast, hard and fast
Speed through time, skating on glass
Time is well forgot
We are the ones of a race soon old
We are the ones who will witness the blow
Whose eyes will burn on whatever they behold
Whose flesh will bleed by the thorns of a rose
Whose lips shall whisper these words to be told
And you will scatter in the Earth's end
Step by step, we must fight
The war of our world is about to begin
Kill one another over the power of words
Cool and dense, but fast as light
Mercury, the messenger stands in flight
Sent by the gods to bring us the news
We are the race that was left for not
We are the ones that time forgot
In the Universe there is always constant change
Blinded by greed you fought over gold
Ready to take whatever you can hold
And you will pay in the Earth's end
A methane blast, hard and fast
Speed through time, skating on glass
Time is well forgot
Step by step, we must fight
The war of our world is about to begin
Kill one another over the power of words
We are the ones of a race soon old
We are the ones who will witness the blow
Whose eyes will burn on whatever they behold
Whose flesh will bleed by the thorns of a rose
Whose lips shall whisper these words to be told
And you will scatter in the Earth's end
08 Save the Skull (04:17)
Timeless shadow stalking the night
Search for a victim before the new light
Demented by shame, lost in his pain
When will his hunger stop
Carving the flesh from her succulent chest
Through the fog into the mist
His relentless murders are never fast
He always saves the skull for last
Save the skull for last
Cause the life it's lived has passed
Save the skull for last
Hot young flesh, freshly killed
It makes him feel better when
He sees the blood spill
He must be stopped dead or alive
Or many people won't survive
He preys on whores, he lures them in
This is where the nightmare ends and begins
Torturing them slow, never fast
He always saves the skull for last
Save the skull for last
Cause the life it�s live has passed
Save the skull for last
Save the skull for last
Cause the life it's live has passed
Save the skull for last
Polish your sword for vengeance is sweet
And keep this evil off the street
He must be stopped dead or alive
Or many people won't survive
I'll cut him up into little cubes
And put him an a pot
And make a bloody stew
I'll throw it in the alley
And feed him to the rats
He�ll never save a skull at last
Save the skull for last
Cause the life it's live has passed
Save the skull for last
Save the skull for last
Cause the life it's live has passed
Save the skull for last
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