Bay Area thrash veterans HEATHEN have discussed their new deal with Napalm Records and plans for an upcoming full-length album in an extensive new interview. The partnership kicked off with the single "Never A God," a reworked track from LAUGHING DEAD -- an early '90s band fronted by HEATHEN vocalist David White -- reimagined through the full power of the HEATHEN sound.
The band revealed they are deep into writing sessions for what will be their fourth album and the follow-up to 2020's critically acclaimed "Empire Of The Blind," which marked their triumphant return after a 19-year gap between studio albums. That record, produced by bassist Jason Viebrooks, earned widespread praise for marrying the technical precision and melodic sensibility of classic Bay Area thrash with modern production values, landing on numerous year-end best-of lists.
HEATHEN stated that the new material pushes their sound further while maintaining the technical thrash foundations that earned them respect alongside legendary Bay Area peers like EXODUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, and FORBIDDEN. The partnership with Napalm Records represents a significant step up in label support and global distribution, giving HEATHEN the platform their talent has long deserved.
Founded in 1984 in the San Francisco Bay Area during the thrash metal explosion, HEATHEN released two landmark albums -- "Breaking the Silence" in 1987 and "Victims of Deception" in 1991 -- that remain touchstones of technical thrash metal. Their meticulous approach to songwriting, featuring complex arrangements and progressive flourishes wrapped in aggressive thrash frameworks, set them apart from their more straightforward peers. While the gap between "Victims of Deception" and "Empire Of The Blind" saw lineup changes and periods of inactivity, the band's creative fire never fully extinguished. With Napalm Records behind them, HEATHEN appear poised to deliver their strongest chapter yet.