HEAVENFALL
"Thorn" (Rockshots Records; 2026)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Heavenfall's "Thorn" is an intriguing blend of grinding heavy metal with potent vocals and surprising melodies that come together in a unique sound that draws you into the band's world and holds you there throughout the album's runtime.
Staunchly guitar-driven, with crunchy riffs, driving rhythms and expressive leads, "Thorn" burns through eleven tracks and nearly an hour of music with an electric energy that, even when it slows down and lowers the volume (even just a little bit, as on "Left Apart" and a couple of other tracks), it still delivers a fiery punch that moves the album forward.
My favorite tracks here are "No Candlelight," with its rumbling, thick riff; the storytelling "Ora Pro Nemine," with its atmosphere-building spoken-word intro and arena rock chorus; and the devastating guitar crush of "Midwinter in July." As I mentioned above, a few of the tracks slow down here and there for acoustic breaks, etc., but never for long, and the breaks are always song-appropriate.
The album closes with the massive, 8:11 track, "Stranomium," which isn't quite as epic as it should be for a final track. Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad track. It's just that you might expect something more for the last track on this album. Something with more, shall we say, oomph.
Overall, "Thorn" is a solid, progressive metal record with lots to recommend, especially if you're a fan of the genre.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/Heavenfallmetal/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
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Copyright © 2004 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
