Breaking the Silence
Heathen · 1987
49 min · 9 tracks · thrash metal
A relentless thrash metal assault combining intricate riffs with aggressive vocals and a dark, apocalyptic atmosphere.
Top tracks — play these first
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Death by Hanging — The opening track sets the tone with its ferocious pace and intricate guitar work, immediately capturing the listener's attention and showcasing Heathen's technical prowess.
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Breaking the Silence — The title track features a memorable chorus and showcases both melodic elements and aggressive instrumentation, embodying the balance that defines the album.
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Open the Grave — This track stands out for its atmospheric build-up and haunting lyrics, effectively contrasting aggression with moments of eerie introspection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate riffs and aggressive vocals but lacks some cohesion in its pacing.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, maintaining high energy through the first half before introducing slower, more complex arrangements in the latter tracks.
- Riffs are often layered, with dual guitar harmonies creating intricate melodies that complement aggressive vocal lines throughout most of the songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Goblin’s Blade
The narrative shifts from a menacing description of a creature to an urgent call for action against it.
This shift intensifies the song's theme of impending doom while cleverly engaging the listener with vivid imagery.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Death by Hanging 5:05
- 2 Goblin’s Blade 4:34
- 3 Open the Grave 7:22
- 4 Pray for Death 3:42
- 5 Set Me Free 3:47
- 6 Breaking the Silence 5:50
- 7 World’s End 7:05
- 8 Save the Skull 5:21
- 9 Heathen 6:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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