Heaven Shall Burn Wave The Metalcore Flag

An article on Germany's Heaven Shall Burn has been posted on ChartAttack.com:

Hardcore has always been the stomping ground for pseudo-intellectual commentary. From the likes of Fugazi and Black Flag through to more modern mouthpieces like Strife and Earth Crisis, the genre has been the place where people could speak their mind on a social level.

That’s why it was only a matter of time before hardcore and heavy metal’s bastard son metalcore took the reins. Strangely, this world is divided between those who base their lyrical perspective on the guts, ghosts and gore of metal and bands who're flagwavers for whatever cause.

Germany’s Heaven Shall Burn didn’t just jump to the cause. They grabbed it by the throat. Utilizing their third effort Antigone as a means of generating political and global consciousness without sacrificing the passion and primal thrust of the genre, their "take no prisoners" attitudes has thrust them into the metalcore spotlight.

"We don’t want to be big artists or show how greatly we can play our solos," grunts lead singer Marcus Bischoff. "We just want to hit you in the face with our music. We want to spread our rage to the people and take them with us."

With songs that point out the ignorance of society and how our only means of survival is to change now, Heaven Shall Burn (completed by drummer Matthias Voight, guitarists Maik Weichert and Patrick Schleitzer and bassist Eric Bischoff) are just shy of pure activists. But that’s a line they refuse to cross. Instead of chaining themselves to trees, they’d rather get in your face and tell YOU to do it. They’re just the messengers… it’s up to you to answer the door. But Bischoff admits that he’s not sure if even this band will be enough motivation in an otherwise uncaring world.

"I’m afraid that our generation won’t suffer enough to change," he says. "It’ll be our grandchildren and their children that will have to change. Humans are like that: as long as we can continue, we will until it’s a necessity. Many people in hardcore know these issues and change a small part in their life, but you have to start at the roots to make it real. And here we are chopping at that root."

Heaven Shall Burn’s stance has even more impact when put into context. Raised in an environment where speaking your mind was virtually a punishable offence, Bischoff feels that the need for the truth is stronger than ever. The fact that the band will stop at nothing to deliver that truth is even more compelling.

"We’re from former communist East Germany," he says. "There were many things you weren’t allowed to do here. If you went on the street and told the truth, you’d go to jail. Today, you’re allowed to tell the truth but people don’t dare because they’re afraid to lose their job. What’s the use of having this freedom but you don’t dare because of fear? People should use their minds to keep their personal freedom at least."

Source: ChartAttack.com