Heaven Shall Burn Team Up with Old Friend Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage for "Numbered Days" Cover

WATCH "NUMBERED DAYS" VISUALIZER
PRE-ORDER "HEIMAT"

HEAVEN SHALL BURN TEAM UP WITH OLD FRIENDS FOR THEIR COVER OF "NUMBERED DAYS" FEATURING JESSE LEACH OF KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — WATCH

 TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM HEIMAT OUT JUNE 27 VIA CENTURY MEDIA 

BRITTA GÖRTZ FROM HIRAES FILLING IN ON VOCALS FOR UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS

Following their tradition of covering some of their favorite and most influential tracks featuring members of the original, Heaven Shall Burn are releasing "Numbered Days" (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage).

Check out the visualizer that is accompanying the celebration of the friendship between the bands here. 

Bonus points for anyone catching the title of one of Heaven Shall Burn's classics in the lyrics.

The band comments, "Killswitch Engage are THE metalcore band! When we heard 'Numbered Days' for the very first time, it totally blew us away. It was clear that something new was brewing up. No other band has influenced this style of music more and interpreted it better. Just because the guys have been very good friends for many years doesn't mean you can't pay tribute to this great band. We hope the song means as much to you as it does to us!"

Leach further adds, "All of us are honored by Heaven Shall Burn covering 'Numbered Days.' That song truly kicked off an album for us that would change our lives. All these years later to have people still resonate with our music means the world to us. Now to have a band like Heaven Shall Burn cover it 23 years later is really wild! Grateful and very stoked to have been a part of the reshaping of this song and to hear someone else's take on it!"

Make sure to catch Killswitch Engage on their upcoming European tour, because "Numbered Days" isn't the only song from this legendary band that had a lasting impact on modern extreme music.

Another pending question is finally answered: After Heaven Shall Burn had to cancel some shows due to their singer Marcus Bischoff suffering from a severe infection of his vocal chords, the band is happy to announce that Britta Görtz from HIRAES will be filling in. "We have a plan!" says Bischoff. "Britta from HIRAES will fill in for me at the upcoming shows, so tomorrow in Kufstein as well as next weekend! Give her a warm welcome, show her what HSB fans are made of and make the shows something very special in the band's history! We are really looking forward to it! Things are already looking better for me, too! Your Molle and the HSB guys!"

 Get well soon and welcome Britta!

Photo Credit: Candy Welz

"Heimat" = German for "home/homeland/native land" — a term that merely refers to a relationship between people and spaces but has nevertheless always been highly emotionally charged. Often misused, it sometimes causes discomfort, lively discussions, and battles over interpretation.

Guitarist Maik Weichert comments, "Heimat is not meant as the narrow-minded end point in the sense it has been used by agitators and populists, but the starting point for observations and perspectives. The album is about a much wider sense of the term 'Heimat': The homelands for many different people and also about the spiritual home, something that shapes and determines our thoughts and actions."

Heaven Shall Burn took their time with the follow-up to Of Truth And Sacrifice, which reached No. 1 on the Official German Album Charts in 2020. Heimat was produced at the band's own studio, The Dude Ranch, which is run by guitarist Alexander Dietz. As in the past, Danish producer Tue Madsen took care of the mixing and mastering.

The Thuringians enlisted the renowned artist Eliran Kantor for the artwork, who previously crafted the artwork for Of Truth And Sacrifice. The centerpiece of the impressive triptych is a rearing stag — in its roaring variant a classic motif of wildlife painting, the epitome of kitsch and trivial art from the 19th and 20th centuries and interpreted by some as a symbol of patriarchy and capitalist competition, but here placed as a vital allegory of resistance amid an apocalyptic scene. He is flanked by a hunting lynx and a watchful owl, which complete the highly symbolic artwork concept as further elements of the triptych. As with Of Truth And Sacrifice, Heaven Shall Burn worked together with composer, producer and director Sven Helbig and conductor Wilhelm Keitel, this time supported by the Mondëna Quartet and the Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir.

Cover Art: Eliran Kantor

Heimat will be released on June 27 by the band's long-standing label partner Century Media.

Heimat will be available in the following formats: *Ltd. Deluxe Triple-Gatefold transp. red-blue splattered 2LP+CD (album on 45rpm + Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) *Ltd. Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (+ Live at Summer Breeze 2024 Blu-ray + Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) *Ltd. transp. light blue-red splattered LP (500) available from Heaven Shall Burn (SOLD OUT) *Ltd. Side A/B split (red&black) LP (500) available from Heaven Shall Burn on live shows *Ltd. deep blood red LP (300) available from Heaven Shall Burn *Ltd. olive green LP (300) available from Heaven Shall Burn  *Ltd. transp. sun yellow LP (500) available from cmdistro.de and various Indie retailers *Ltd. orange LP (300) available from Impericon *Ltd. transp. green LP (300) available from EMP who also carry options with a wooden canvas (30cm x 30cm) *Black LP *Standard CD Jewelcase *Digital album (+ Keinen Schritt zurück -EP) Pre-order the album here.

HEIMAT TRACK LISTING: "Ad Arma" "War Is The Father Of All" "My Revocation Of Compliance" "Confounder" "Empowerment" "A Whisper From Above" "Imminence" "Those Left Behind" "Ten Days In May" "Numbered Days" (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) "Dora"  "A Silent Guard" "Inter Arma"  KEINEN SCHRITT ZURÜCK EP TRACK LISTING: "Keinen Schritt zurück" (Feat. Donots) "Schweineherbst" (Feat. Dÿse) "Eisenkopf" "Destroy Fascism" HEAVEN SHALL BURN have already released three singles and videos taken from Heimat: "My Revocation of Compliance" video  "Confounder" video   "Empowerment" video Don't miss their exclusive release shows in clubs and festival appearances in Europe. More info here.

HEAVEN SHALL BURN ARE: Marcus Bischoff — Vocals Maik Weichert — Guitar Alexander Dietz — Guitar Eric Bischoff — Bass Christian Bass — Drums HEAVEN SHALL BURN ONLINE: CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS ONLINE:

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Killswitch Engage's Adam D Will See You In The Pit

To celebrate the expanded vinyl release of As Daylight Dies, Killswitch Engage guitarist and producer Adam D. joins The Pit for a special conversation about the making of the album. Watch the trailer here. Grab the As Daylight Dies vinyl here before online orders end on 8/26.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ONLINE:

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The 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2019

Sorry, for the bit of the delay, on this list, but regular work had kept me very busy. Regardless, 2019 proved to be another great year for heavy music. Many big name veterans put out some great music, but there are some young, up and comers who kicked major ass, as well. The year proved to be really good for thrash and death metal, in particular, I feel. Making this list wasn't easy and involved a lot of continuous, to the last minute, changes. Anyway, here we go! On a side note, man was black and grey a popular choice for artists as their cover color schemes last year!

Honorable Mentions:
Amon Amarth- Berserker
Korn- The Nothing
Lindsey Schoolcraft- Martyr 
Belzebubs- Pantheon of the Nightside Gods
Flotsam and Jetsam- The End of Chaos 

20. Entombed A.D.- Bowels of the Earth- The mighty Entombed A.D. are back motherfuckers! My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/08/entombed-ad-bowels-of-earth-album-review.html

19. Darkthrone- Old Star- Majestically dark and cold, Darkthrone's latest release is an all engulfing and encompassing assault of old school Norwegian black metal. It combines with an epicness, and even bits of catchieness in songs like "The Hardships of the Scots", that helps to cement it as one the best black metal releases of last year. 

18. Traveler- Traveler- Canadian band Traveler makes their debut and give us what is the best music from a new group playing old school style heavy metal. My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/02/traveler-traveler-album-review.html

17. Chelsea Wolfe- Birth of Violence- Chelsea Wolfe, one of the most original musicians of recent memory, gives us a haunting, powerful, and beautiful acoustic album with her latest release. It is the perfect album to heal and soothe my dark soul.  

16. Fit For An Autopsy- The Sea of Tragic Beasts- One of the best acts in all of deathcore, Fit For An Autopsy have delivered a monster of an album. One of their finest recordings ever, The Sea of Tragic Beasts is heavy, groove-filled, and sure to get mosh pits a blaze. For proof just listen to bangers like "No Man Is Without Fear" and the title track.

15. Possessed- Revelations of Oblivion- Possessed are back to kick your fucking ass straight to hell! Revelations of Oblivion is their absolute finest work since their rightfully heralded classic Seven Churches. This album is a wonderfully satanic mix of pounding death metal and unrelenting thrash. In all, one of the most killer genre benders in many a moon.  

14. Creeping Death- Wretched Illusions- 2019's best debut album came from this old school death metal styled Texas act. My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/09/creeping-death-wretched-illusions-album.html

13. Toxic Holocaust- Primal Future: 2019- The best Toxic Holocaust album yet, and here is my review of it: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/10/toxic-holocaust-primal-future-2019.html

12. Mayhem- Daemon- It feels like forever since I last really enjoyed a Mayhem album. But, unholy fuck is it ever great to have that change. This is an awesome and dark blast of old school and righteously evil Norwegian sounds. From the cold feeling production to the raspy, demonic vocals to the blast-beat assaults this is everything we black metal fans fucking want and need!

11. Rammstein- Rammstein- All these years later Rammstein remain one of the kings of industrial. And, this self-titled rocker proves it. Hard hitting, fun, and catchy it really ranks among their best albums. The excellent production is among the best that you were likely to hear last year. And, the single "Deutschland" is one of my favorite singles that was released in 2019.

 10. Carnifex- World War X- Carnifex continue to grow outside of the confines of deathcore, while remaining entrenched in it. They do this by continuing to expand on the use of taking influences from other sub-genres, like black metal, as they have been doing for the last couple of releases. Tracks like "Visions of the End" are among some of the songs that got my adrenaline most pumped up. In short, World War X is brutal, angry, dark, merciless, and absolutely fucking kills! . 

9. Periphery- Periphery IV: Hail Stan- Periphery continue to be one of the best bands in their style of metal, being head and shoulders above many of the others like them. Their epic, complex, and diverse fourth album continues to prove that. On a side note, it has one of the most fun sounding titles of 2019!

8. Whitechapel- The Valley- This is a dark, powerful, and honest release from one of the kings of deathcore. It is perhaps their most mature album, yet despite some moments where it slows down, the band never loses any of its ferocity. The Valley is a haunting work and one among their finest recordings.

7. Death Angel- Humanicide- One of the great classic thrash bands, Death Angel have put out 2019's absolute best thrash album in Humanicide. As fucking good as their preceding album, The Evil Divide, was this album is even better. As a matter of fact, it is their best work since their classic heyday.

6. Jinjer- Macro- Jinjer is the metal success story of the year. The hardworking band achieved their biggest success yet, and I honestly believe that they are only going to get bigger. Their latest LP Macro is a killer bit of progressive/ d'jent metal. Killer groove, complex song structures, and varied influences (including reggae!) and sounds make this a record that, I feel, will be looked upon as a classic in the future. For now, it is their best yet and one of the coolest of 2019. 

5. Slipknot- We Are Not Your Kind- One of the biggest bands in all of metal, Slipknot put out their latest last year. And, honestly it ranks among the very best the band has ever done. It takes the best elements of their finest work mixes it all in a great and varied sounding disc. Heavy, catchy, and featuring excellent production proves that they are worthy of all the continued popularity and success that they continue to have.

4. The Agonist- Orphans- It is a crying shame that The Agonist are so underrated. They remain a fucking killer group, one that not only continues to make spectacular music, but in fact, with this album, have made their best one, yet! I absolute adore them and this album, is one of my most listened to of all of last year. 

3. Killswitch Engage- Atonement- The masters and gods of metalcore gave us another masterwork this time in the form of the amazing Atonement. It is an album that early on looked like it could take the top place. And, even though it didn't, it did come close. But, then featuring team-ups with former signer and current Light The Torch frontman Howard Jones ("The Signal Fire") and Testament frontman Chuck Billy ("The Crownless King") and more truly fucking ass kicking songs, how could it not?

2. Cattle Decapitation- Death Atlas- Fuck is this album ever brutal!! Cattle Decapitation is always a band that I am excited to hear their latest, and despite one or two reviews I heard/ read giving it a lower rating, I fucking LOVED this one!! It is yet another great release from one of the best extreme metal bands around. I spent a lot of time debating whether this should be number one or two. This may have taken the silver medal, but it came ever so fucking close to gold!

1. Abbath- Outstrider- From the moment I heard this album it felt like it would take the top spot. While, it wasn't easy to choose over the KsE or especially over Cattle Decapitation, it ultimately won. Now, while I absolutely adored the self-titled debut, this one is even better. Which in my book is saying a lot! Abbath's brand of fun, but still unquestionably ass kicking black metal is completely up my alley. With it's musicianship and awesome track list, Oustrtider makes it to the very top of this super competitive list, and in my eyes is the best metal album of 2019!

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The 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2016 part 2, 10-1

10. Avenged Sevenfold- The Stage- Released with no advertising and as a completed surprise to both media and fans, Avenged Sevenfold's The Stage sold far less than the band's previous releases. Which is a shame because this album is a bold and exciting move for the band. Going for a more progressive sound, the songs are long and technically amazing. This isn't as great as Nightmare, but it still ranks among their finest work. It certainly is their most risk taking work. Songs like "God Damn" rank among my favorite songs of theirs, and the closer, "Exist" is the most epic tune they have ever written.

9. Testament- Brotherhood of the Snake- The absolute finest album Testament have put out since Formation of Damnation, Brotherhood of the Snake is a monster of a thrash album. A full throttle thrasher, this is Testament destroying all in their path. While, many older bands kind of just rely on their laurels, these guys are still giving it their all, which just happens to be filled with fury and speed.

8. The Pretty Reckless- Who You Selling For- The third release from The Pretty Reckless is a great album with wonderful mix of various styles, influences, and songs. This is the hard rock album of the year, for sure. Some songs rock with a headbanging groove, others with a real blues feel, and, yet others are beautiful ballads. The blusey "Take Me Down" is one of my favorite singles of the year, one that I cannot stop listening! Whatever the song may sound like, they are all united by Taylor Momsen's voice which as beautiful as is.

7. Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas- Mariner- The sleeper hit of the year, Mariner, is an album that exceeded my expectations and delivered one of the most beautiful, complex, and unforgettable music experiences of 2016. This collaboration between Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas will go down in history as one of the greatest, and most original, between artists in the history of metal music. My full review: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2016/03/cult-of-luna-and-julie-chirstmas.html

6. Anthrax- For All Kings- Filled with a classic metal sound and their thrash speed For All Kings, has Anthrax showing that they still are masters of the style of metal that they play. This one will have you banging your head at a continuous, breakneck pace, throwing up the horns, signing along, and wanting to mosh straight into the pit. The way a great thrash metal album should make you feel! Oh, and "Breathing Lightning" is a modern metal classic!

5. Amon Amarth- Jomsviking- This is straight up THE best album the melodic death metal masters Amon Amarth have put out since With Odin in Our Blood. I've liked a lot of the albums that made post that classic, but none of them ever fully pleased in the way that one had. And, then comes this masterpiece. It reinvigorated my love for the band and never fails to get me pumped up. With its soaring guitars and vocals that sign of awesome and violent viking tales, its the type of metal album that you'll wanna sling a few beers to as you headbang and sign along. And, one more thing, that cover fucking rules!

3. Abbath- Abbath- This is the most fun black metal album ever made. I know that sounds like an odd thing to say, but it really is. Featuring great hooks, driving music, and the right amount of a cold and distant feel, this album has the former Immortal frontman take the best of the sounds from the last couple of albums from his former band and expands on it. By doing so he has birthed the greatest black and roll album of all time. It might inspire a lot of the opposite feelings associated with black metal, but who cares? This is one of my most played albums of 2016!

 

3. Killswitch Engage- Incarnate- Here is an album that yet again proves that Killswitch Engage are light-years ahead of the bands they inspired. They are without a shadow of a doubt the greatest metalcore band, ever. And, this is the best metalcore album of the year. Heavy and melodic with Jesse Leech's amazing vocals giving much heart to the band's excellent and powerful lyrics. Songs like "Alone I Stand", "Cut Me Loose" and "Hate By Design" have some of my personal favorite lyrics of 2016, which I think is pretty much a trademark of KsE. 

 

2. Metallica- Hardwired... To Self-Destruct- I very much liked Death Magnetic, but this album blows it away. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best Metallica album since ...And Justice For All. And, no this album does not match those first four albums, but hardly any album in this world does. What this album does do is rock and thrash hard. Speed metal lovers will love the title track and the destined to be modern classic "Spit Out The Bone". While other songs like "Atlas Rise" and "Now That We're Dead" pummel and pound the listener. In fact, the later is not just my favorite track of the album, it might be my favorite of the year. Note the words, might be. Anyway, there is some melodic heaviness with songs like "Moth Into Flame". Shit, they even have a song that mentions my lord and master Cthulhu in "Dream No More"! What the fuck more could you ask for?

1. Meshuggah- The Violent Sleep of Reason- This pummeling, driving, merciless, yet intricate and fury filled monster is the album of the year. Meshuggah have delivered a rage creature incarnate in The Violent Sleep of Reason. From the opening track of "Clockworks" to the closer in the form of "Into Decay" this album just beats you into submission till it kills you, then pummels your corpse until nothing is left. Songs like "MonstroCity" are destined to be classics in their sets. It serves as a shining example of how even the best of the bands that Meshuggah has birthed cannot hang with their brutal forefathers. This is truly the Violent aural masterpiece without equal of 2016.

The 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2016 part 1, 20-11

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Killswitch Engage Live at Bowery Ballroom NYC 3/7/16

Starting this past Sunday, metalcore founding fathers and gods Killswitch Engage did a sold-out NYC residency tour. I got to go as press and catch the second date of it, as they played in the Bowery Ballroom. This show took place last night (March 7, 2016). And, it was killer! From all I hear it was even better than the show they played the night before at the Gramercy. In fact, it might just be impossible for any other venue they will be hitting to top in it's epic awesomeness.

The opening act was Brooklyn natives, Candiria. I think it's very cool that KsE picked them to open for them at this venue. They've been around since 1992 and are still kicking ass. This is my first time seeing them live,  but I definitely would see them again. Their music is very unique. It mixes metalcore, jazz, and rap in quite an exciting and original manner. The resulting sound is a mix of crunching breakdowns and changing tempos accompanied by vocals that range from screaming to signing to rapping. They played a fun set and got the audience moving. Candiria have an album coming out this year from Metal Blade Records, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for it.

Killswitch Engage came on after. And, holy shit did they own that stage! From the get go it was clear the band was ready to tear shit up. Everything was full throttle from them, and they sounded perfect.

They opened this amazing set with "A Bid Farewell" and played many classics and fan favorites from their discography including, "Rose of Sharyn", "Self Revolution", "The End of Heartache", "Always", and more. When they played "Life to Lifeless" lead signer Jesse Leach got into the crowd and sang with them!! It was such a fucking awesome moment! They also played new songs from the upcoming album Incarnate (which comes out this Fri, by the way), including the killer track "Alone I Stand" which they live debuted for us.

Playing in a smaller venue like this allowed them to be close to the audience and interact with them; the way that they did. It also allowed the audience to get on stage and sign with the band, stage dive, and even take selfies (the later of which was eventually nipped in the butt)! But, it really made for a fun and crazy experience. I don't remember seeing any band letting people on stage during the whole entire concert! I honestly didn't think that that even happened anymore. But, it's thing like this that made this show so fucking awesome and unforgettable.

And, yet despite the continuous stage diving and large mosh pit, no one got injured. To be honest if I wasn't photographing for this site I would've stage dived, myself. I did do a little bit of jumping and moving around though. It was impossible not to, what with the killer music that was playing! The last song they played was the classic and amazing "My Curse". This was a concert for the ages, make no bones about it. And, Killswitch Engage once again reminded why not only are one of my personal favorite bands in the world, but one of the best metal bands anywhere on this planet.

 

 

 

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