Heretic — Breaking Point
Breaking Point was the debut studio album from LA’s Heretic. Originally surfacing in 1988, the ten-track release offered up an often dramatic & memorable blend of power and thrash metal. And while you can certainly hear nods towards the likes of Metal Church, Anthrax, and a few other bands, it makes for a decent debut album, with the band managing to add in a few of their own touches here & there. Here from Punishment 18 Records is a CD reissue of the album
The CD comes presented in a jewel case- under the disc, we get a rather moody black & white band shot of the five-piece. The inlay booklet takes on its cover the original album art of a bomb surrounded by newspaper clippings. Inside, we find full lyrics/ credits- though sadly no new write-up about the band, or interviews with them now.
The original line-up of Heretic formed in LA in 1984. It brought together guitarists Brian Korban and Rick Halpin, bassist Scott Patton, drummer Merick Abrajano, and vocalist Mike "Towers" Torres. Though fairly soon Halpin and Patton were replaced by Bobby Marquez and Dennis O'Hara, with Mike Howe also replaced Mendez just before they went into the studio to record Breaking Point. Sadly, the band split in 1988, with just one album released. Though in 2011, Korban, O'Hara and Mendez reformed Heretic with guitarist Glenn Rogers of US Trashes Hirax- releasing two other albums to date: A Time of Crisis (2012) & A Game You Cannot Win (2017).
The album opens with the track “Heretic” which starts with moody keyboard simmers, galloping keys, and clear guitars before bursting into a gunning blend of speeding riff craft & power metal punchiness- with a blend of gang & wailing vocals. As we move on through the first half of the record, we have dramatic thrash chugging, sailing solos, and chant along chorus of “The Enemy Within”.
Moving into the second half of the album, we have the instrumental “Pale Shelter” it layers together clean guitar strum and light touches of atmospheric keyboard simmer 'n' hover. There’s the stomping riff meets metallic harmonic glimmer of “Evil For Evil”. With the album playing out with “The Search” which switches between guitar strum and rising, powerful vocals, and more strutting power metal soar.
If you enjoy where late 80’s Power and Thrash metal meet, then Breaking Point is well worth a look. Though as I mentioned earlier, it’s s pity there’s no new interviews/ write-ups about the band in the booklet, but I know this type of thing isn’t always possible.