Deaf to Our Prayers

Germany's Heaven Shall Burn is one of many bands on the rising tide of post-hardcore death metal, and their fifth full-length, DEAF TO OUR PRAYERS, proves they are one of the strongest. In addition to the band's unremittingly brutal sonic attack, Heaven Shall Burn also fire off lyrical barbs with their fiercely committed, highly politicized agenda (the band extols civil rights and veganism, while railing against hypocrisy and corruption). As on DEAF's predecessor, ANTIGONE, the band occasionally spins soft, delicate passages, then obliterates any semblance of melodicism with death-core explosions of guitar and screaming. Tightly composed and executed, DEAF is the sound of one of death metal's strongest voices rising to the world stage. A bonus DVD featuring videos and live footage sweetens the deal.