One of the biggest names in the history of Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore strikes again with their tenth opus, displaying a deep connection to their homeland and their German roots.

Heimat, which is German for “home”, “homeland, or “native land”, is a term that merely refers to a relationship between people and spaces but has nevertheless always been highly emotionally charged. That’s the title of the new offering by German Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore outfit Heaven Shall Burn, following up on their critically acclaimed 2020 album Of Truth And Sacrifice. Produced at The Dude Ranch, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio, and showcasing a stunning artwork by world renowned artist Eliran Kantor, the new album by Marcus Bischoff on vocals, Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz on the guitars, Eric Bischoff on bass, and Christian Bass on drums will certainly please both old and new fans of the band, presenting their signature sound without sounding repetitive or outdated, always looking forward regarding their creativity, heaviness and energy.

The intro Ad Arma couldn’t have been more atmospheric and sinister, setting the stage for the band to crush us all with War Is the Father of All, with Marcus roaring rabidly amidst an imposing, symphonic-infused Metalcore sound boosted by Christian’s pounding drums, or in other words, it’s an impressive and multi-layered start to the album. My Revocation of Compliance is another hammering tune showcasing dark lyrics growled by Marcus (“Welcome to an age of disregard / So abhorrent, all this torture, all this suffering / Yes, you all are the inciters / Willful and deliberately, without the slightest qualm”), whereas Maik and Alexander sound venomous with their sharp riffs in Confounder, resulting in a great option for some sick slamming inside the pit. Empowerment offers another round of their caustic and piercing words (“This is a clarion call, this is my call! / Betrayed and forsaken. A generation in rebellion. They all abide the storm. / Left with no option but revolt, up in arms and never resting, now tearing down your web of lies”), followed by A Whisper from Above, an upbeat tune presenting their trademark aggression, with Christian stealing the show with his beats and fills.

Then after the short and sweet interlude Imminence, the band comes ripping once again with Those Left Behind, speeding up their pace while also firing those very melodious riffs we enjoy so much in first-class Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore. Their destructive mode goes on in full force in Ten Days in May, where Maik and Alexander, supported by the rumbling bass by Eric, will pierce your minds and souls with their scorching riffs and solos; followed by their rendition of Numbered Days, by Killswitch Engage (check out the original version from their 2002 album Alive or Just Breathing), featuring guest vocals by Jesse Leach, the current vocalist of Killswitch Engage themselves, and Heaven Shall Burn deliver a just as violent version of the song for our total delight. Marcus doesn’t get tired of screaming like a beast in Dora, while his bandmates provide him with their classic fusion of violence and harmony; and A Silent Guard is another bludgeoning version of their hybrid of Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore where Christian showcases a visceral performance on drums, before the album ends with the outro Inter Arma, the aftermath of the album albeit too long as already mentioned.

“Heimat is not meant as the narrow-minded end point in the sense it has been used by agitators and populists, but the starting point for observations and perspectives. The album is about a much wider sense of the term ‘Heimat’: the homelands for many different people and also about the spiritual home, something that shapes and determines our thoughts and actions,” commented guitarist Maik Weichert, and you can get in touch with the band to dive even deeper into the world of Heimat via Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to also subscribe to their YouTube channel and visit them on Spotify for more of their music, and of course to grab a copy of their incendiary new album via BandCamp or their own webstore, or simply by clicking HERE. Some of the physical versions of the album include more of the amazing art by Eliran Kantor, by the way, and are definitely worth every penny. With Heimat, Heaven Shall Burn prove once again why they remain relevant in the already saturated Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore scene worldwide, always displaying their connection to their homeland and their German roots, while also speaking the universal language of heavy music that will forever reverberate across the four corners of the earth.

Best moments of the album: War Is the Father of All, A Whisper from Above and Ten Days in May.

Worst moments of the album: Inter Arma.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Ad Arma 1:54
2. War Is the Father of All 6:42
3. My Revocation of Compliance 3:32
4. Confounder 4:19
5. Empowerment 4:45
6. A Whisper from Above 4:27
7. Imminence 1:04
8. Those Left Behind 3:24
9. Ten Days in May 4:36
10. Numbered Days (Killswitch Engage cover) 3:38
11. Dora 4:10
12. A Silent Guard 5:01
13. Inter Arma 3:24

Band members
Marcus Bischoff – vocals
Maik Weichert – guitars
Alexander Dietz – guitars
Eric Bischoff – bass
Christian Bass – drums

Guest musician
Jesse Leach – vocals on “Numbered Days”
Wilhelm Keitel, Mondëna Quartet & Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir – choir & orchestrations