Victims of Deception

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Victims of Deception
Studio album by Heathen
Released	April 12, 1991
Recorded	1989–1991
Studio	Studio D, Sausalito, California Cloud Nine Studios, Chico, California Bayview Studios, Richmond, California Hyde St Studios, San Francisco, California
Genre	Thrash metal, progressive metal
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	Heathen and Rob Beaton
Heathen chronology
Breaking the Silence (1987) Victims of Deception (1991) The Evolution of Chaos (2009)

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Victims of Deception is the second album by the American thrash metal band Heathen, which was released in 1991 by Roadrunner Records. It was re-issued by Metal Mind Productions in 2006, as a digipak in a limited amount of 2,000 numbered copies.

The bonus track "Hellbound" is a cover of Tygers of Pan Tang. The intro of "Hypnotized" features excerpts from a speech by evangelist Jim Jones. It was the band's last studio album for 18 years until the 2009 release of The Evolution of Chaos.

History[]

Heathen's lineup changes, tours and financial issues stalled the recording process of this album, which lasted from 1989 to 1991. The band began work on the album in 1988 after David White was replaced by former Exodus singer Paul Baloff.

After recording a demo with Baloff in the fall of 1988, the band broke up after the departure bassist Mike "Yaz" Jastremski, but reunited some time later, with former Metal Church singer David Wayne replacing Baloff and Manny Bravo replacing Yaz.^[1] Wayne's tenure with Heathen lasted for only a few days, and White soon returned to the band. Bravo would also leave the band; he was replaced by Blind Illusion bassist Vern McEllroy.^[1] The lineup of White, Altus, Piercy, McEllroy and Minter recorded a demo in March 1989, and entered the studio later that year to begin recording their second album under the name Fear of the Unknown, which was intended to be released in 1990. However, due to monetary problems, the album's release was delayed.^[1] When the album was recorded again, Heathen did not have an official bass player; the bass tracks were handled by Blind Illusion guitarist/frontman Marc Biedermann. The band had many bassists on this tour and album including Randy Laire, formerly of Sacramento California based band Vision.

Singles were released for the cover of Rainbow's "Kill the King" and "Prisoners of Fate".

Musical direction[]

This album is considerably more technical and progressive than its predecessor. It features many tempo changes, complex song structures, odd time signatures, longer song lengths, and more frequent guitar solos. It is considered among the most technical thrash albums ever, and part of the so-called "technical/progressive thrash" movement of the late 1980s, early 1990s (other pivotal albums in this era [chronologically] included Metallica's ...And Justice for All, Toxik's Think This, Watchtower's Control and Resistance, Megadeth's Rust in Peace, Dark Angel's Time Does Not Heal, Coroner's Mental Vortex, and Deathrow's Deception Ignored).

Track listing[]

Credits[]

• Dave White – lead vocals
• Lee Altus – guitars
• Doug Piercy – guitars
• Marc Biedermann – bass
• Darren Minter – drums

Additional musicians

• Thaen Rasmussen – lead guitars on "Prisoners of Fate" and "Guitarmony"
• Marc Biedermann – bass

Production

• Eddy Schreyer – mastering
• Jim "Watts" Vereecke – engineering (assistant)
• Larry Schalit – engineering (assistant)
• Pete Carlson – engineering (assistant)
• Rich Cavanaugh – engineering (assistant)
• Joe Giron – photography
• Patricia Mooney – art direction
• Alvin Petty – cover art, logo
• Rob Beaton – producer, engineering, mixing

References[]

External links[]

• Heathen's website