HEAVEN SHALL BURN are a phenomenon. Instead of roaming distant shores in order to seek for innovations the five-piece from Saalfeld/Weimar, Germany is rather heading for well known territories in order to shed their collective skin. For years they have been drawing creative impulses from the long-term friendship between the individual members. Despite releasing new studio albums regularly they are hardly ever in a real hurry. “We take our time to finalize our songs and don’t record them before we feel that they are ready”, explains Alexander Dietz.

It’s hard to believe that a veteran metal band like San Diego’s As I Lay Dying could be just hitting their stride now, some 10 years and five full-lengths into an already stellar career. Still, even after just one listen to the quintet’s latest, The Powerless Rise, you can’t ignore the obvious: One of modern metal’s best just got better.