"Antigone" CD by Heaven Shall Burn

by Andreas Reissnauer (April 2004) Better produced, more matured songwriting - that's how you could describe the development that we can observe for the new album of Heaven Shall Burn. "Whatever it may take" had some great melodies but after all it was a hate-shell between hardcore, Bolt Thrower and Dismember. "Antigone" presents a band that has grown and that doesn't stop for experiments and extended melody lines. Some even reminds me of the later In Flames. But don't worry, the intensity that we've come to love from the old Heaven Shall Burn hasn't come short, either. But the eruptions come more exact and by their new dynamics even unfold a new line of effect. Beside Caliban and Cataract, Heaven Shall Burn are the European leaders of the new metalcore-movement that causes quite a stir in the U.S. "Antigone" is suitable to be a forerunner for this style in Europe, too.