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THE REVIEW
In 1991, Thrash Metal was in retreat, Metallica, who gave it birth in 1983 with "Kill 'Em All," marked its definitive end with "Metallica" (also known as the "Black Album"). Surpassed by Grunge and Crossover (in sales and charts but never in the hearts of true metal kids), classic Metal and Thrash ended up in oblivion (in sales and charts but never in the hearts of true metal kids).
To this state of affairs, every band reacted in its own way, Metallica abandoned metal for a dull mix of Hard Rock-Blues-Country, Megadeth followed the path of their "cousins" Four Horsemen by embracing an increasingly melodic and chart-friendly Hard Rock, Anthrax experimented with Hardcore and rap sounds, Slayer continued to produce albums with mixed results ranging from good (Divine Intervention) to terrible (Diabolus In Musica), and Testament dabbled in death (Demonic) with disastrous results.
In this bleak panorama, one band managed to release, in the aforementioned 1991 (disastrous for Heavy and Thrash but truly a golden year for Death), an album that added nothing to what the aforementioned bands had already done but can be considered, in hindsight, an excellent platter. The album is characterized by a strong technical component, owing much to Metallica's "Master Of Puppets" and, to a lesser extent, "And Justice For All," by a sustained speed, by the excellent voice of singer David White, and by the admirable solos of guitarists Terry Lauderdale and Lee Altus.
"Hypnotized" starts the show with an intro that leads into a bone-crushing track, followed by excellent songs like "Opiate of the Masses", "Prisoners of Fate", the Rainbow cover "Kill The King", and the instrumental "Guitarmony". The album closes with a bang with the groovy and furious "Timeless Cell of Prophecy".
After this record, the band disbanded, returning in 2004, but not with a new work, instead with a sort of best-of topped with covers of Queen, Thin Lizzy, and other bands. This album is highly recommended to those who were disappointed by the black album in 1991. If you love Metallica (the real ones, drunk and pissed), this album will present you with more than one pleasant surprise.
KEEP THE METAL FAITH ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary by Bot
Released in 1991 during thrash metal's decline, Heathen's Victims of Deception stands out as an excellent technical album. It embraces speed, skillful solos, and solid vocals, drawing clear inspiration from Metallica's early work. Noteworthy tracks include "Hypnotized," "Opiate of the Masses," and a powerful cover of Rainbow's "Kill the King." The album remains a must-listen for thrash metal purists seeking quality beyond mainstream releases.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Heathen
Heathen are an American Bay Area thrash metal band formed in 1984 in San Francisco. Known for precise, technical riffing and David White’s soaring vocals, they debuted with Breaking the Silence (1987), reached a technical apex on Victims of Deception (1991), and returned with The Evolution of Chaos (2010) and Empire of the Blind (2020).04 Reviews
Other reviews
By Lorenx
Victims Of Deception is not just sound violence for its own sake, but a complex, intricate, highly technical and damn engaging album.
I consider this album a masterpiece, if not only for the excessive length of the tracks, which slightly weighs on the immediacy and for the presence of some fillers that completely clash in an album of this kind.
