German metal quintet Heaven Shall Burn release album number eight Wanderer via Century Media Records on September 16. All I’m going to give you is this quote from the band that sums up the theme and feeling of the record. “During confusing and troubled times you occasionally need to retreat from all the madness that surrounds you. This allows you to gain new perspective, energy and focus, so that you can attack change with a refreshed and strengthened mindset. Modern life has become so complex that sometimes choosing simplicity and solitude can give you the strength to conquer the chaos around and within you. ‘The Wanderer’ isn’t merely offering interesting historical and political stories, but also serves as a travelogue of a journey into one’s inner self. A search for a safe haven for our daily stress as well as an outlet for negative feelings and aggression.”
The melodic opening of The Loss Of Fury increases in intensity before the drums kick in. Not even a minute into the track and I’m wanting to stop writing this review and go start a one man (well woman) pit in my room! The vocals are angry and harsh, fitting the melody well. The abrupt end before the drum solo for Bring the War Home begins. The track seems like it could be an extended version of the opener, albeit a lot heavier with gritty guitars.
Passage of the Crane sees a more melodic approach being interrupted by a guttural scream. They Shall Not Pass is 5 and a half minutes of pure brilliance! With a great opening guitar solo and incremental drums, the minute and a half instrumental is genius and genuinely something I could sit and listen to for an entire song (someone get guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz to make a guitar album please?!). It seems as the album goes on, the vocals get even angrier (which I didn’t think possible after the second track!) Save Me sees some haunting clean vocals.
The entire record is one for the pits definitely! A very heavy and angry eighth record from the quintet. While at times, the tracks sound similar, the album is well produced and the skills of each individual member shine brightly throughout from pounding basslines, intricate riffs and guitar solos to heavy drum beats and guttural, in your face screams. If you like heavy, then you’ll love this record!