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I feel I am a late-comer to the metal machine known as Heaven Shall Burn, and perhaps I should be more self-conscious about the great music I have cheated myself out of by not getting into these German titans sooner. I have not heard any of their prior material to this latest album, entitled "Iconoclast (Part 1: The Final Resistance)", but if it's ANYTHING like the ass-kicking, seething venom coming from this record, I will be looking to get the rest of their discography. Vegans and leftists though they may be, I refrain from holding this against them on the grounds of sheer musical brilliance put forth in this release. I can't stop playing this (along with the new Arise And Ruin release) lately, and can't get their raw catchiness out of my head. This band's music is the perfect mix of metal, hardcore, and the ability to let all aspects of their art breathe: to ebb and flow between sheer annihilatory rage and somber instrumental gentility. Now, when I say this, don't assume they're yet another metalcore band, they truly are roughly 99% metal and 1% hardcore, though some hardliners out there may beg to differ. Oh well, it doesn't change the fact that this is one of the best, full-bodied releases I've come across in a while. The vocals in this bands music are PERFECT. No frills, no lace, no beautiful walks in the park emo-style, no "bring back the 80's thrash hollering" vocals. Marcus Bischoff lays out his vocals as passionately and as intensely as he can: and yes, they are of a death metal nature. Not a sheer death metal growl, but more of an empowered roar threatening to drive ANY lyrical point home with the listener who can take it. The guitar tone is an all-encompasing sonic eargasm on here, and guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz create a feeling that truly grabs the listeners attention and soul. From the heavier, thrashier moments on here to calm, clean picking: these guitars couldn't be made better. The bass coming from out of Eric Bischoff's (no, not the Eric Bischoff of the late WCW) amp supports the tone overall, and creates a bombastic aural thunder. Mathias Voigt's drumming is something that stands out to me, mainly because it's not trying to out-tech anybody, yet at the same time is mature and creative. The double bass usage, in particular, is well-tempered. The songs on here are all solid, though my favorite, HANDS DOWN, is "Murderers Of All Murderers". The album is brought in with an instrumental ("Awoken") and taken out with an instrumental ("Atonement"). In betwee the alpha and omega of this opus, tracks like "Endzeit", "Joel", "The Bombs Of My Saviours", and "The Disease" provide maddeningly pleasant metal to pummel the senses yet still retain melodic catchiness. "Like A Thousand Suns" breathes life into the listeners ears with a full barrage of production and great guitar bridges. "Murderers Of All Murderers" snaps into this interesting techno-style beat in the beginning and leads into a great chorus that is almost overly catchy for this style of music. I really can't find a complaint about this album, apart from some of the guitars in "Black Tears" that remind me of a Sonic Syndicate song, and SS is very fairly away from a favorite band of mine. Nevertheless, if you enjoy crystal clear production putting a band to the test: this album is for you. My monkey is rocked and ready to hit the hay from sheer exhuastion: kids, get ready for Heaven Shall Burn to put their stamp on the metal scene with this beast!
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