Heretic are a speed metal band formed by Dennis O'Hara, guitarist Brian Korban and vocalist Mike Torres. Mike sang on the band's 1986 EP before being replaced by Mike Howe. After "Breaking Point" was released, Mike Howe joined Metal Church, and Heretic fell apart. Korban and O'Hara would join former Metal Church singer David Wayne and form Reverend. Guitarist Brian Korban was a childhood friend of another prominent thrash guitarist, Glenn Rogers (Deliverance/Hirax). The two were in bands together as teenagers and formed their first bands together.

Heretic - Breaking Point (Metal Blade) 1988

1. "Heretic" (3:37)
2. "And Kingdoms Fall" (4:56)
3. "The Circle" (5:16)
4. "Enemy Within" (3:21)
5. "Time Runs Short" (6:37)
6. "Pale Shelter" [instrumental] (3:41)
7. "Shifting Fire" (3:58)
8. "Let 'em Bleed" (3:05)
9. "Evil For Evil" (3:52)
10." The Search" (7:06)

This final piece in the Metal Church trilogy is now part of my collection. Heretic's "Breaking Point" is a speed metal masterpiece with some thrash metal moments as well. Musically it fits quite nicely in between Metal Church's "The Dark" and "Blessing in Disguise". Had I not known, I might have thought this was an unreleased Metal Church album. The songwriting varies from the fast and furious to mid-paced heavy metal to more melacholy moments. like in the acoustic intro of "Heretic." While this song starts off with a little acoustic intro, it builds up stronger and stronger until it breaks into a pure headbanging speed-metal riff. Mike Howe's vocals are powerful. It's no wonder that Metal Church snapped him up after this disc. Lets not forget the incredibly fast soloing that this band also has. "And Kingdoms Fall" takes the speed down slightly but never lets up in the intensity. Once again Mike Howe's vocals are a real standout here. His vocals melodies along simply shred. "The Circle" and "Enemy Within" continue walking over the same fence between speed metal and power metal. "Time Runs Short" then starts off slowly, and builds up to some massive, bludgeoning riffs. This is one of the finest songs on the disc. After a short acoustic interlude called "Pale Shelter", "Shifting Fire" slams you in the face. This song is an uptempo thrasher. "Let 'Em Bleed" continue with the same speed and in-your-face intensity, Howe screaming the whole way. This song, along with many of the others, have a distinct Judas Priest vibe to them, especially in the extended guitar section in the middle of the song. "Evil for Evil" is a bit slower, but man Mike gives the vocal performance of his life here. This song has some thrash riffing going on although the band never really crosses over into pure thrash metal terrain, preferring instead to give a solid speed metal performance. "The Search" is a seven minute epic track that closes out the album. This track is unlike the rest of the disc as it is a power ballad. Unfortunately that discription is a bit misleading as one tends to think of some sugary sweet radio ballad. However, "The Search" is still heavy, complex and has more in common with the likes of Saxon's "The Eagle Has Landed" or Metal Church's "Anthem of the Enstranged" than anything overtly commercial. Heretic is speed metal at its finest. Pure classic 80s speed metal. If ever there was an album that deserved to be re-issued, this is it. Unfortunately for now, it's probably one of the rarest and most sought after metal CDs around, along with Reverend's first EP.

Related Collections:
Metal Church | Reverend

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