| The
Review |
We need more metal bands like this, or at least more new
blood like Heed coming out of the woodwork, that's for sure.
Rather than playing over-the-top hard-edged metal or completely
pop tinged AOR, Heed takes the best of both worlds, kind of
combining the heavy textures of Rage with the high melodic
prowess of TNT, Fatal Force, & Kingdom Come, then add a ballsy
technical tinge of Running Wild or Virgin Steel and you've
got it, actually, they've got it, that is. ***
The album emphasizes thick quick guitar riffage, where
there is high stature for heaviness throughout the record;
it's the guitars and songwriting that encompass the musical
approach here. Even with all the catchiness and a high presence
of hook-laden material, there are nods to progressive metal
("Moments " & "Tears of Prodigy"), high aggressive moments
("I Am Alive" & "Hypnosis"), as well as a captivating pulse
of balladry (the acoustic, emotion driven "Nothing") and even
some semi-experimental toyings ("I am Alive"); basically,
these guys know how to keep it diverse throughout. ***
Vocally, Daniel Heiman sings clean with a high tenor,
occasionally going into a rough tangent for showmanship, but
it's for personality purposes (similar to what Devin Townsend
does on his 'SOLO' projects, while axeman Fredrik Olsson has
the thick wall of rectified distortion which leads the overall
tight groove that Heed provides altogether. In the end, if
it's a high marksmanship for melodic heavy metal that you
want, 'head the call' for Heed.
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