HEAVEN SHALL BURN are here with their new masterpiece Antigone. Fiery and stunning, it knocks you off your feet and simply blows your mind. After an MCD entitl...In Battle... and a split-LP with Fall of Serenity, Germany's HEAVEN SHALL BURN signed to Lifeforce Records/Impression Music for their 2000 debut album Asunder. It was followed by a split-CD with their long-time friends Caliban in 2000 as well as 2002's album Whatever It May Take, which was acknowledged by fans and media within both the metal and hardcore worlds. Ever since their early days HEAVEN SHALL BURN have been called a hybrid of bands like Earth Crisis, At The Gates or Bolt Thrower, which underlines the fact that the band is all about uniting the finest from death metal and hardcore styles. The result is a musically irresistible combination, lyrically exposing a very dedicated, socially aware and politically committed attitude. Topics like today's forgotten wars, that are still shaking mankind beyond TV screens and embedded reporters, as well as other historical and also newer political issues, the fight against racism or suggestions for an earth/nature respecting lifestyle are only a couple of examples for their wide repertoire. No HEAVEN SHALL BURN song is dealing with fantasy lyrics, they are about reality. Still, we don't want to preach, we want to make people think and act! explains guitarist Maik Weichert.
Produced by Patrick W. Engel and engineered by Ralf Müller at Rape Of Harmony Studios, Germany as well as mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio, Denmark (Born From Pain, Mnemic, Hatesphere, etc.), this new monster of an album gravitates towards their more melodic edge by including more harmonies but never loses its devouring brutal edge. The melodic dual guitar hook-lines hailing from Scandinavia appear even more often than before and are combined with a fat double-bass groove that adds a brutal contrast to the heavy mosh parts. Another twist was added by intros and outros that were composed and recorded by the upcoming Icelandic composer Òlafur Arnalds during the grim and secluded darkness of the Icelandic winter, especially for this CD. The title of the album Antigone was inspired by the character Antigone from the classic Greek drama: In the Greek saga, Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Iokaste, was buried alive in a rock grave by king Creon after acting against the rules of the king and instead following the principle of humanity by burying her brother Polyneikes, who had fought against his father-city Theben. For HEAVEN SHALL BURN the character of Antigone works as a metaphor for autocracy and freedom of the individual within a tyranny: Antigone is the prototype of a freedom-fighter following strong convictions and beliefs, summarizes Maik. Reinforcing their reputation of being an extremely powerful live-act, some of HEAVEN SHALL BURN's touring highlights in their young career include a European tour in 2001, a South American tour and UK mini-tour in 2002, two successful visits to Iceland in 2002 and 2003 as well as trips to countries like Greece, Norway and Denmark. There were also devastating appearances at German festivals like Party-San, With Full Force, Westfalen Festival, Wacken Open Air or Summer Breeze as well as Ieper Fest (Belgium), Goodlife Festival (Belgium) and Fluff Fest (Czech Republic). On these occasions they shared the stage with remarkably diverse acts such as Bolt Thrower, Converge, Darkest Hour, Shai Hulud, Edge of Sanity, Liar, Caliban, Amon Amarth, Biohazard, Dew-Scented, Slapshot and Hatebreed just to mention a very few.
Thus, be sure to catch HEAVEN SHALL BURN on one of the shows they are already working on for 2004. In its initial European pressing Antigone will be a limited edition with special slip-case packaging that includes two bonus cover-tracks, namely Dislocation by Disembodied and Not My God by Hate Squad. Maik explained why they picked this two songs: Disembodied are still one of our all-time favourites, they were far ahead their time, very heavy, modern and unique they are of the innovators in new school hardcore. Hate Squad were quite big here in Europe, they might have been the first real metalcore band out of Germany, but nobody really realized that. Not My God' is their best song, with very strong and direct lyrics and it's a bomb when played live!
Source: Label Officiel: http://www.centurymedia.com
