Heaven Shall Burn – Heimat
Review By: George Andritsakis
Review Score: 6.5
Century Media stalwarts Heaven Shall Burn return to the hardcore metal scene with their tenth studio album, Heimat. From the crucible of Saalfeld, Germany, emerged Heaven Shall Burn in 1996, a relentless force that masterfully blurs the lines between melodic death metal, metalcore, and even hints of deathcore. Originally forming under the name Consense, the band swiftly cemented their identity, drawing their moniker from a Marduk album title, intending it as a metaphorical call to dismantle false paradigms rather than an anti-religious statement.
Comprised of vocalist Marcus Bischoff, guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz, bassist Eric Bischoff, and drummer Christian Bass, Heaven Shall Burn has built a formidable discography. Their sound is an explosive blend of searing riffs, intricate melodies, punishing breakdowns, and Marcus Bischoff’s guttural roars, often drawing comparisons to the ferocity of Bolt Thrower mixed with a more frenetic energy.
On Heimat, Upon the first handful of playthroughs, to me it sounded almost like any other metalcore band out there right now. But after a while, the gems of the album popped out and slowly worked their way into my head as insane ear candy.
War Is The Father Of All, Empowerment, Those Left Behind, Ten Days in May, and A Silent Guard, not to mention the instrumental album intro and outros make this album a worthy purchase and addition to any metal collection.
Just so I didn’t bias myself, I also listened to their preceding album, “Of Truth and Sacrifice” just to gauge what the band was coming off of last. From the sounds of it, that album was phenomenal, and Heimat is molded in almost the same vein, almost like a sequel of sorts.
Beyond their sonic assault, Heaven Shall Burn stands as a band with a powerful message. Their lyrics are deeply rooted in social and political commentary, consistently expressing strong support for anti-racism, anti-fascism, and animal rights. The band members themselves are vegans or vegetarians, with many adhering to a straight edge philosophy, further solidifying their commitment to their principles. This unwavering stance, combined with their uncompromising musical delivery, has earned them a dedicated global following.
Genre: Hardcore Metal, Metalcore
Label: Century Media
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Playlist:
1. Ad Arma
2. War Is The Father Of All
3. My Revocation Of Compliance
4. Confounder
5. Empowerment
6. A Whisper From Above
7. Imminence
8. Those Left Behind
9. Ten Days In May
10. Numbered Days
11. Dora
12. A Silent Guard
13. Inter Arma
Lineup:
Vocals – Marcus Bischoff
Guitars – Maik Weichert, Alexander Dietz
Bass – Eric Bischoff
Drums – Christian Bass