Heaven Shall Burn

Heaven Shall Burn

Guitarist Maik Weichert and vocalist Marcus Bischoff performing at Deichbrand 2014
Background information
Origin Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany
Genres
Years active 1996–present
Labels Lifeforce, Century Media
Associated acts
Website www.heavenshallburn.com
Members
  • Marcus Bischoff
  • Maik Weichert
  • Eric Bischoff
  • Alexander Dietz
  • Christian Bass
Past members
  • Patrick Schleitzer
  • Matthias Voigt

Heaven Shall Burn (sometimes abbreviated HSB) are a German extreme metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1996. The band consists of vocalist Marcus Bischoff, guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz, bassist Eric Bischoff and drummer Christian Bass. They are currently signed to Century Media. They have released seven studio albums, as well as a number of other records. Their latest album, Veto, entered the German Album Charts at #2 in 2013.[1]

Heaven Shall Burn's musical style has been described as metalcore,[2][3][4][5] melodic death metal[2][3][5] and deathcore.[6] Their lyrics often express militant support of anti-racism, fighting social injustice and similar stances. All members are vegans or vegetarians.[7]

History

Formation and first releases (1996–1999)

Heaven Shall Burn was formed by guitarist Maik Weichert and drummer Matthias Voigt in the fall of 1996 under the name Consense.[6] After the first demo recording in early 1997, vocalist Marcus Bischoff and bassist Eric Bischoff joined the band. In this form they started playing shows and festivals, this led to a contract with Deeds of Revolution Records.[8] The EP In Battle There Is No Law was released in 1998 through Deeds of Revolution Records[8] and a split album with Fall of Serenity in 1999. Shortly after second guitarist Patrick Schleitzer joined Heaven Shall Burn.[6]

Asunder, The Split Program and Whatever It May Take (2000–2003)

After their shared released with Fall of Serenity they signed to Lifeforce Records.[8] Lifeforce released Heaven Shall Burn's debut album Asunder and their first collaboration with Caliban (The Split Program) in 2000.[6][8] Heaven Shall Burn proceeded touring in Europe and South America.[6] In 2002 their second album Whatever It May Take and a re-issue of their EP In Battle There Is No Law were released.[6] As soon a Whatever It May Take was released Heaven Shall Burn began another tour cycle, which led them through numerous countries, including Greece, Iceland and the UK. They also played prestigious German festivals such as Party.San, With Full Force and Wacken Open Air.[9]

Antigone and Deaf to Our Prayers (2004–2006)

After signing to Century Media in January 2004, Heaven Shall Burn's label debut Antigone was released on April 26. The LP version of the album was released through Lifeforce.[10] Shortly after the release of Antigone Heaven Shall Burn filmed a music video for the song "The Weapon They Fear".[11] Antigone was further promoted during a headlinig tour through Europe, supported by Maroon.[12]

Guitarist Alexander Dietz performing at Rocco del Schlacko 2012. He joined the band in 2005 after Patrick Schleitzer stepped down as guitarist.

After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Heaven Shall Burn teamed up with Napalm Death and the Haunted and released the split single Tsunami Benefit to raise money for charity. The single was limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies and was sold on two exlusive Napalm Death shows.[13]

In March 2005, Heaven Shall Burn appeared at the Independence D Festival in Japan.[14] In summer 2005 Heaven Shall Burn and Caliban's second split album The Split Program II was released through Lifeforce Records.[15] Shortly after participating at the Hell on Earth Tour 2005 Heaven Shall Burn announced that guitarist Patrick Schleitzer was leaving the band and Alexander Dietz, who played the guitar during the Hell on Earth Tour, would become the new guitarist. Heaven Shall Burn played a special farewell show with Schleitzer in Saalfeld.[16]

Follwing a quiet period, Heaven Shall Burn announced they had recorded a new album titled Deaf to Our Prayers, which was released on August 28, 2006.[17] After the release of "Counterweight", as the first track of the new album,[18] Deaf to Our Prayers entered the German album charts at #65, being the first Heaven Shall Burn album to enter record sales charts.[1] During Summer 2006, Heaven Shall Burn played shows at Summer Breeze Open Air and other festivals. Live footage, recored at Summer Breeze was later used in the "Counterweight" music video.[19] In September and October they headlined the Hell on Earth Tour 2006 on the European mainland, also part of the tour were Cataract, Maroon, and God Forbid.[20] At the end of the year they embarked co-headlining tour with Caliban through Germany and Belgium.[19]

Iconoclast trilogy (2007–2012)

A re-mixed version of Whatever It May Take was released in 2007, featuring a different song order and an acoustic track "io".[8] For the shows during the summer Christian Bass was hired as live drummer.[21] In August Heaven Shall Burn announced they had begun recording a new album.[22] In October the new album Iconoclast (Part 1: The Final Resistance) was announced, with release dates in early 2008.[23] Heaven Shall Burn finished the year 2007, participating in the Darkness Over X-Mas Tour, co-headlining with Caliban, with support of Sonic Syndicate, Misery Speaks and the Sorrow. "Endzeit", the first song released of Iconoclast, saw its live premiere on that tour.[24]

Bassist Eric Bischoff performing at Resurrection Festival 2010

After its release Iconoclast entered the German album charts at #21, Heaven Shall Burn's best charting position to that date.[1] Also a music video was released for the track "Endzeit".[25] Shortly after a couple release shows in Germany and Greece, Heaven Shall Burn went on tour in support of Iconoclast. The first leg of the tour through Europe was joined by Aborted and Misery Speaks, the second leg of the tour was Heaven Shall Burn's first ever North American tour with support of Embrace the End and the Ghost Inside.[26] The North American leg was a brief tour across the US and Canada winding up at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.[27] Following their North American tour Heaven Shall Burn played several summer festival across Europe.[28] In Vienna, Heaven Shall Burn played a show to celebrated their 10th Anniversary. The show was recorded for a future DVD.[29]

The recording of the Vienna show was released as part of Bildersturm - Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance). Heaven Shall Burn's first DVD Bildersturm was released in 2009.[30] With its release a music video for Heaven Shall Burn's Edge of Sanity cover of "Black Tears" came along.[31] In May Heaven Shall Burn supported Trivium on their Australian tour.[32] Again in summer Heaven Shall Burn appeared on festivals across Europe including Wacken Open Air.[33] In early December Heaven Shall Burn were special guest on the Taste of Chaos 2009 tour dates in Germany, headlined by In Flames and Killswitch Engage.[34] Later in December Heaven Shall Burn embarked the Darkness Over X-Mas Tour with support of Dark Tranquillity, Swashbuckle, and Deadlock.[35]

The third part of the Iconoclast trilogy Invictus (Iconoclast III) was released in May 2010 and became the band's and Century Media's first release to enter the top ten of the German Album Charts, entering at #9.[36] To further promote Invictus Heaven Shall Burn embarked a co-headlining tour with As I Lay Dying through Europe, in November 2010, with support of Suicide Silence and Dew-Scented.[37][38] In May 2011, Heaven Shall Burn toured across South America, again with As I Lay Dying.

In early 2012, Heaven Shall Burn were part of the Australian Soundwave Festival and played shows in South-East Asia. After that they took part at the Impericon Progression Tour, the tour line-up included Unearth, Neaera and Suffokate on the European mainland and Rise to Remain, Malefice and Adept in the UK.[39][40] After numerous festival shows, including a headlining show at With Full Force,[41] Heaven Shall Burn and Caliban joined forces to celebrate either band's 15th Anniversary. Heaven Shall Burn celebrated their 15th Anniversary playing their 500th show on December 21, 2012 in the sold out Klubhaus in their hometown Saalfeld.[42]

Drummer Christian Bass performing at Deichbrand 2014. He replaced Matthias Voigt as Heaven Shall Burn's drummer in 2013.

Veto (2013–present)

In January 2013, Heaven Shall Burn annouced they had finished writing their next album and were about to start recording it.[43] On February 20 they revealed their new album Veto, which was released April 19, in Germany and April 30, in North America.[44] To promote the album's release a music video was shot for "Hunters Will Be Hunted"[45] and a lyric video was made for "Godiva".[46] The release of the album was celebrated with shows at the Impericon Festivals in Leipzig and Vienna and the Loudfest in Zurich.[44] Veto entered the official German Album Charts at #2.[1] Heaven Shall Burn appeared on some European Summer Festivals in 2013, among theses festivals were Graspop Metal Meeting and the first edition of Rock'n'Heim at the Hockenheimring.[47][48] In support of Veto Heaven Shall burn embarked a headlining tour through Europe in November and December 2013, supporting acts were Hypocrisy, Dying Fetus and Bleed from Within.[49] Before the tour began drummer Matthias Voigt released a statement and announced that he was about to step down as drummer of Heaven Shall Burn and live drummer Christian Bass would take his position.[50]

In February 2014, Heaven Shall Burn toured South America with Parkway Drive.[51] Heaven Shall Burn played several festivals across Europe in the Summer of 2014 including Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Wacken Open Air, Deichbrand and Summer Breeze Open Air.[52] Later the same year Heaven Shall Burn were special guest on Parkway Drive's European Tour 2014, along with Carnifex and Northlane.[53] Parkway Drive shared headlining duties with Heaven Shall Burn in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[54]

On April 30, 2015, Heaven Shall Burn became the sponsor for the tricots of football team FC Carl Zeiss Jena. It is part of their campaign "Support Your Local Team", which should encourage people to support their local clubs, not only top class clubs. On Sunday, May 3, will be the first time Jena will play in their new tricots.[55][56][57]

Band name

The name was taken from a Marduk album titled Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered.

“

It’s not that we’re huge Marduk fans, but we liked the name. It sounds a bit provoking and so people ask us again and again for the meaning behind our name. [..] We use the term "heaven" as a metaphor for some kind of a fake paradise that people create in their heads. Some people close their eyes and don’t see the truth surrounding them. So this kind of fake heaven should burn. Some people might think that our name is an anti-religious statement, but it isn’t.

 ”

—Matthias Voigt, in an interview with DecoyMusic.com[58]

Members

Current members
  • Marcus Bischoff – vocals (1996–present)
  • Maik Weichert – guitar (1996–present)
  • Eric Bischoff – bass (1996–present)
  • Alexander Dietz – guitar (2005[16]–present)
  • Christian Bass – drums (2013[50]–present)
Former members
  • Patrick Schleitzer – guitar (1998–2005[16])
  • Matthias Voigt – drums (1996–2013[50])
Session members

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Heaven Shall Burn discography.
Studio albums

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Staff writer(s); no by-line. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline". www.musicline.de (in German). Phononet GmbH. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Colgan, Chris. "Heaven Shall Burn:[Invictus (Iconoclast III)] : PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Heaven Shall Burn biography @ MusicMight
  4. ↑ "Heaven Shall Burn - Biography - Metal Storm". Metal Storm. Retrieved August 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Staff writer(s); no by-line. "Heaven Shall Burn - Band info". www.metalstorm.net. Metal Storm. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Rivadavia, Eduardo. Heaven Shall Burn biography at AllMusic. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Heaven Shall Burn "We Are The Final Resistance!!"".
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Staff writer(s); no by-line. "HEAVEN SHALL BURN". www.musicmight.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. "Heaven Shall Burn - Biography". www.metalstorm.net. Metal Storm. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (January 23, 2004). "Heaven Shall Burn: New Signing". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (April 8, 2004). "Heaven Shall Burn to film video for "The Weapon They Fear"". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (November 4, 2004). "Heaven Shall Burn: Say "Thank you"!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (January 13, 2005). "Napalm Death, The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn to release single for tsunami relief". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  14. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (February 1, 2005). "Heaven Shall Burn confirmed for Japan's Independence D Festival". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  15. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (February 28, 2005). "Caliban and Heaven Shall Burn split". lambgoat.com. Lambgoat. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Staff writer(s); no by-line. (November 16, 2005). "Heaven Shall Burn: New guitarist, last show with old line-up". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (June 20, 2006). "Heaven Shall Burn: Deaf to Our Prayers out August 28th". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  18. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (August 11, 2006). "Heaven Shall Burn: New song "Counterweight" online!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Staff writer(s); no by-line. (November 10, 2006). "Heaven Shall Burn: "Counterweight" video and Spirit Tour". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  20. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (July 6, 2006). "Maroon, Heaven Shall Burn comment on upcoming Hell on Earth European Tour". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  21. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (May 18, 2007). "Drummer Christian Bass to play with Heaven Shall Burn". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  22. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (August 24, 2007). "Heaven Shall Burn: New album!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  23. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (October 16, 2007). "Heaven Shall Burn: Iconoclast & exclusive Cologne show". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (December 7, 2007). "Heaven Shall Burn: HEAVEN SHALL BURN added to the Darkness Over X-Mas Tour". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (February 1, 2008). "Heaven Shall Burn: "Endzeit" video posted online". February 1, 2008. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  26. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (January 25, 2008). "Heaven Shall Burn: Confirm European & US headliner tours!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  27. ↑ Web Dept (February 13, 2008). "NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL SET FOR APRIL". www.revolvermag.com. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  28. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (June 10, 2008). "Heaven Shall Burn: Confirmed for Greenfield Festival (CH) on June 13, 2008 & more!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  29. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (July 31, 2008). "Heaven Shall Burn: Record live show in Vienna for future DVD; free tickets available now!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  30. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (March 2, 2009). "Heaven Shall Burn: Reveal title of first official DVD release". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  31. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (April 6, 2009). "Heaven Shall Burn: "Black Tears" video available". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  32. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (March 24, 2009). "Trivium, Heaven Shall Burn tour (Australia)". lambgoat.com. Lambgoat. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  33. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (June 4, 2009). "Heaven Shall Burn: Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance) chart entries!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  34. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. "In Flames - Taste of Chaos Tour 2009". www.mlk.com (in German). Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  35. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (September 2, 2009). "Heaven Shall Burn: & Dark Tranquillity team up for Darkness Over X-Mas Tour 2009!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  36. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (June 4, 2010). "Century Media Records - Heaven Shall Burn: Invictus #9 in German Charts!". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  37. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (August 11, 2010). "As I Lay Dying to tour Europe with Heaven Shall Burn, Suicide Silence". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  38. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (August 17, 2010). "Dew Scented added to As I Lay Dying, Heaven Shall Burn, Suicide Silence dates". www.blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  39. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (February 9, 2012). "Heaven Shall Burn: Dates for Soundwave Festivals (AUS), Southeast Asia and "Progression Tour 2012" UK". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  40. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (March 9, 2012). "Heaven Shall Burn: European "Progression Tour 2012" starts". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  41. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (June 6, 2012). "Heaven Shall Burn: European Summer Festivals". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  42. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (October 23, 2012). "Heaven Shall Burn: Anniversary show with CALIBAN sold out, announcing additional show". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  43. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn (January 18, 2013). "Entering studio!". www.heavenshallburn.com. Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Staff writer(s); no by-line. (February 20, 2013). "Heaven Shall Burn: Launch "Land of the Upright Ones", 1st track off VETO via a sound puzzle, reveal cover". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  45. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (April 22, 2013). "Heaven Shall Burn: Launches video for "Hunters Will Be Hunted" online". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  46. ↑ Islander (April 29, 2013). "An NCS Video Premiere: Heaven Shall Burn — "Godiva"". www.nocleansinging.com. No Clean Singing. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  47. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (May 28, 2013). "Heaven Shall Burn: Announce European headlining tour with Hypocrisy". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  48. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (July 22, 2013). "Ready for Rock'n'Heim!". www.rock-n-heim.com (in German). Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  49. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn (September 9, 2013). "HSB VETO TOUR line up completed!!! Meet and Greet". www.heavenshallburn.com. Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 Heaven Shall Burn (November 1, 2013). "Christian Bass to drum for HSB!". www.heavenshallburn.com. Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  51. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn (December 30, 2013). "One crazy year is ending!". www.heavenshallburn.com. Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  52. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (May 14, 2015). "Heaven Shall Burn: Touring UK with Parkway Drive, Northlane, Carnifex". centurymedia.com. Century Media Records. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  53. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn (July 17, 2014). "HSB + PWD - European TOUR!". www.heavenshallburn.com. Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  54. ↑ Avocado Booking. "Parkway Drive & Heaven Shall Burn co-headline tour with special guests Carnifex and Northlane". www.facebook.com. Facebook. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  55. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn (April 30, 2015). "Wir sind jetzt Sponsor". www.heavenshallburn.com (in German). Heaven Shall Burn. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  56. ↑ Staff writer(s); no by-line. (April 30, 2015). ""Heaven Shall Burn" wirbt auf FCC-Trikot". www.fc-carlzeiss-jena.de (in German). FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  57. ↑ luk/sid (April 30, 2015). "Heaven Shall Burn: Metal-Band sponsert Carl Zeiss Jena". www.spiegel.de (in German). Spiegel Online. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  58. ↑ Heaven Shall Burn - Kazy - DecoyMusic.com. Interview with Mike Molnar. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  59. ↑ Veto (booklet). Heaven Shall Burn. Century Media. 2013.

External links

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