"Heimat" = German for "home + homeland + native land" — a term that merely refers to a relationship between people and spaces but has nevertheless always been highly emotionally charged. Often misused, it sometimes causes discomfort, lively discussions, and battles over interpretation.
Guitarist Maik Weichert comments, "Heimat is not meant as the narrow-minded end point in the sense it has been used by agitators and populists, but the starting point for observations and perspectives. The album is about a much wider sense of the term 'Heimat:' the homelands for many different people and also about the spiritual home, something that shapes and determines our thoughts and actions."
Heaven Shall Burn took their time with the follow-up to Of Truth And Sacrifice, which reached number 1 in the Official German Album Charts in 2020. Heimat was produced at the band's own studio, The Dude Ranch, which is run by guitarist Alexander Dietz. Like in the past, Danish producer Tue Madsen took care of the mixing and mastering.
The Thuringians enlisted the renowned artist Eliran Kantor for the artwork, who previously crafted the artwork for Of Truth And Sacrifice. The centerpiece of the impressive triptych is a rearing stag — in its roaring variant a classic motif of wildlife painting, the epitome of kitsch and trivial art from the 19th and 20th centuries and interpreted by some as a symbol of patriarchy and capitalist competition, but here placed as a vital allegory of resistance amid an apocalyptic scene. He is flanked by a hunting lynx and a watchful owl, which complete the highly symbolic artwork concept as further elements of the triptych.
Watch the video by Thomas Liebchen Below:
As with Of Truth And Sacrifice, Heaven Shall Burn worked with composer, producer and director Sven Helbig and conductor Wilhelm Keitel, this time supported by the Mondëna Quartet and the Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir.
Over the last couple of months, Heaven Shall Burn have released two unusual singles, "Keinen Schritt zurück" (Feat. Donots) and "Schweineherbst" (Feat. Dÿse). Today they are pleased to present "My Revocation of Compliance," a typical Heaven Shall Burn song.
"The song reflects our current attitude," Heaven Shall Burn say. "It is time to stop being held back by candy coated speeches. The essential challenge for our generation is to consistently live our own attitudes and convictions and to no longer tolerate the omnipresent ignorance of the pressing problems of our time. Sham discussions, divisive tendencies, and envy debates, in other words everything that is available in the political toolbox of those in power, must not distract us from the real undesirable developments and must be rigorously smashed. We think the iconoclastic symbolism of the video conveys this attitude in a very special way."
Heimat will be released on June 27 by the band's long-standing label partner Century Media Records.
Pre-order the album here.
HEAVEN SHALL BURN ARE:
Marcus Bischoff — Vocals
Maik Weichert — Guitar
Alexander Dietz — Guitar
Eric Bischoff — Bass
Christian Bass — Drums