Heaven's Rage - Temporary

Ok, I think I've seen ads for this CD before...like, a long time ago.  My guess is that it was advertised in HM Magazine in the past.  The cover looks eerily familiar.  Anyways...this album was originally released in 1993 and Retroactive Records is making it available again.  This is not a re-release, but the label is just making it easier for fans to find this album twelve years after it's release.

Temporary starts off very different than most albums...especially metal albums.  The opening 3 minute and 21 second spoken vocal track is basically a plea to look at your life acknowledge your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.  I've seen stuff like this at the end of CD's before, but never at the first.  The remainder of the album is basically some average thrash metal with some very sub-par vocals.  You have your standard crunchy guitars, a little speed and groove here and there, some guitar solos, pounding drums with lots of double bass, and cleanly sung/screamed vocals that do absolutely nothing to impress me in the slightest.  This album is being advertised for fans of Megadeth, Metallica, Testament, Deliverance, and Tourniquet.  Unfortunately, Heaven's Rage is not even in the same ballpark as those bands.  There are some decent moments, but this is nothing I'm going to listen to again after this review.

Production quality is average, packaging is ummm...weird.  I'd say these guys are the Galactic Cowboys of thrash metal with pictures of cows, little babies with guitars, the band's faces imposed on Mount Rushmore, and other crazy stuff inside the CD booklet.  Lyrically, the band is very bold for their faith in Christ, but they just don't have much else going for them.  (One side note...the band went on to become the band Lucid...a much better band in my opinion).

Rating: 41/100

Review By: Matt Morrow

Label: Retroactive Records

Total Songs: 16

Total Time: 53:39

Tracklisting: 1. Listen, 2. Answer, 3. Slave, 4. Zombie, 5. Junkie, 6. Drown, 7. Demoralized, 8. Empty, 9. Mad Cow, 10. Temporary, 11. Stand, 12. Choices, 13. Waiting, 14. Nailed, 15. Generation X, 16. Repent.

Best Songs: Tracks 2 & 8

Band Lineup: Bill, Terry, Mike, & Barry (I think)

Band Website: ?