Heathen – The Evolution Of Chaos (2010)

Eighteen years have passed since the band’s last full-length “Victims Of Deception” and legions of fans were left hungry for another release of this amazing band. After releasing an EP/Best Of compilation the band presents us with “The Evolution Of Chaos”, a brilliant masterpiece that every Trash Metal fan, and even every metalhead in general has to listen.

Featuring 11 tracks of Trash Metal brilliance we don’t think there will be another album this year that can rival what Heathen has managed to do with “The Evolution Of Chaos”. Clocking around 70 minutes, this album is one of the best releases we have heard in quite a while.

Heathen made sure that their fans got rewarded with this album since they bring their own sound and the overall old-school Trash Metal feeling back in full swing. While other band’s try to re-live the glory days, Heathen is making new music that feels both old school and modern sounding, drawing more and more people into the genre.

The album’s music is so good that at some moments they sound like Metallica on their “And Justice For All” album, specially in the song “No Stone Unturned” the riffing is just too similar, and too amazing in my opinion. All other songs feature amazing Trash Metal riffs that would put all other bands to shame. But the guitar solos is what takes this release to a new dimension, they are brilliantly written and executed.

Lee Altus has overdone himself this time with brilliant riffs and very cohesive music that flows together like all the legendary albums of the genre. The whole album is greatly put together with the exception of the song “A Heros’ Welcome”, it’s a very nice tribute song but kind of messes with the flow of the album. The rest of the songs are just brilliant.

All the music is as close as you can get to Bay Area Trash Metal perfection. David White’s vocals are just perfect, they are not too ‘heavy metal’ and not harsh at all. Creating a perfect sound for this already brilliant album, Heathen has managed to over do themselves and create another masterpiece.

I will stop now praising this brilliant album, and I would let you explore it for yourself. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. I just hope we don’t have to wait another 18 years for Heathen to release a full-length again.

Release: February 16th, 2010

Country: USA