ALBUM REVIEW: The Evolution of Chaos – Heathen

In the early 80s thrash metal bands were a dime a dozen solidifying around the Big Four we know and all love but there were bands who took inspiration from this movement and took their chances knowing glory and hero status would not be too far behind. Bay Area thrashers HEATHEN are no different, coming from the same area of the US that kings of thrash METALLICA come from. Releasing two albums one at the height of the genre and one in the early 90s when Cobain and his followers were staring at their feet as the music industry turned their heads towards grunge and more emotionally centred lyrics.

Everybody loves a survivor and HEATHEN are street survivors having released an album at the end of the 2000s in The Evolution of Chaos that is celebrating a remastered and updated version including a previously unreleased song and a live set. What’s immediately evident is how much of an inspiration METALLICA are to this record. It opens with a orchestral piece setting the scene for the war the listener is about to listen to akin to the aforementioned band’s magnum opus Master Of Puppets.

Lead singer Dave White has never sounded better than on this record, utilising his full vocal potential whether utilising his higher ranges, guttural thrash style screams, imagine a duet between Bruce Dickinson and James Hetfield at their prime and you’re not too far off. It’s important these type of records from thrash bands are given their time in the sun and The Evolution of Chaos finally feels it’s given the air to breath having been specifically remastered for each choice of listening whether vinyl, streaming or CD.

Some bands have a propensity for disappearing up their own backsides when it comes to indulging in longer songs like the 18 minute Empire Of The Clouds from IRON MAIDEN‘s latest record but the key here is to keep the listener engaged and guessing where the song will turn to next and that’s what HEATHEN do on the stand out track of the record No Stone Unturned with it’s long instrumental opening to its lyrics about embracing everything life has to throw at you and solo interplay between Lee and Kragen.

Elsewhere on the record, Arrows of Agony showcases the METALLICA Puppets-era influence with a mid section breakdown and A Hero’s Welcome bringing in a movie trailer voice over straight from the cinema. Throughout the record you get a feeling that this album is wearing it’s influences on its sleeve but is not beholden to them. There is enough here to showcase a sound HEATHEN have crafted and shaped over 30 years of being in the industry. With its strong influence from other well know bands but topped with HEATHEN brought kicking and screaming into modern day, this might just be this band’s magnum opus and one which will be very hard to top.

Rating: 8/10

The Evolution of Chaos is out now via Mascot Records.

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