by Ed Rivadavia

The first LP proper from Germany's Heaven Shall Burn, 2000s Asunder finds the angry quintet in the throes of refining their uncontained aggression into somewhat more memorable songs. These, for the most part, still need plenty of work, but the band's musicianship is already top-notch, forging a unified barrage that usually manages to carry them through on intensity and commitment alone. Much-improved songwriting, a better production job, and the almost complete retirement of singer Marcus' clean vocal style (in exchange for his far more confident and effective death screech) would help make the band's next album, 2002's Whatever It May Take, their first surefire winner.