Heathen - Breaking The Silence

The original pressing of the debut album from US speed/thrash crew Heathen here, released on Combat Records. This is pretty renowned as it is, with Heathen garnering a good following for good reason. However, I personally prefer their 2nd album 'Victims of Deception' which came in 1991. Not particularly aggressive, with a lot of speed/power metal influence in their sound (particularly something like 'Goblin's Blade'). Anyhow, still a strong effort and a powerful start from a well loved band.

Heresy - Voice of Fear

An unofficial two disc compilation of... erm... two other unofficial compilations here from Lost & Found Records. This compiles 'Voice Your Opinion' and 'Visions of Fear', two previous comps which together pretty much makes up the discography of the band. Included is 'Never Healed', 'Face Up To It', 'Whose Generation', '13 Rockin Anthems' & a stack of live tracks. Musically, obviously the band are one of the big names from the British hardcore punk scene, with politically themed anarcho crustiness abound. Good stuff if it fits your tastes.

High On Fire - The Art Of Self Defence / Surrounded By Thieves

The first two album from High On Fire here, the band formed by Matt Pike shortly after the dissolution of doom-meisters Sleep. Plenty of similarities between the two bands to be heard, and as you might expect, top quality sludgy stoner doom is in bongfulls on these albums. Smoked out, hazy lazy doom all the way. 'The Art of Self Defence' is the original Man's Ruin Records press (re-presses had different artwork), and 'Surrounded by Thieves' is the Relapse digipak version.

Wyrd / Häive / Kehrä / 3-Way Split (Metal Tin Edition)

This is the limited to 200 hand-numbered copies metal tin version of the 3 way split between these great Finnish bands (you can just about make out the hand numbered bit on the back in the top left corner). Upon buying this, the only band I was aware of was Wyrd, who have been pretty prolific over the years and released a lot of good stuff, but Häive & Kehrä certainly hold their own on this release too. Comes with an extended booklet featuring all the bands, a Northern Silence label flyer and a Wyrd logo patch

Hate Eternal - Infernus (Box Set)

Another one of Season of Mist's limited box editions here, and another which is still easily available. It makes me wonder just how limited these boxes are, or whether they just generally don't sell very well in comparison to the regular 'vanilla' versions. This box comes with the usual flag/patch combo, as well as a digipak version of the album - no bonus tracks this time though. Erik Rutan's main band's crushingly hateful death metal majesty hits the mark once more!

Holy Moses - The New Machine of Liechtenstein

Coming a couple of years after their highly regarded 'Finished with the Dogs', the 1989 third album from German thrashers Holy Moses didn't quite make the same impact. However, it's certainly no slouch - it's still packed full of churning thrashy riffs and dynamism - all the things I loved from their previous albums. I actually enjoy it a lot, but it shares more in common with their debut in comparison to the raw smash in the face of 'Finished with the Dogs'. Original pressing on WEA.

Heretic - Breaking Point

The 1988 debut album from LA's Heretic, 'Breaking Point'. Vocalist Mike Howe quickly joined Metal Church after this release, with guitarist Brian Korban and bassist Dennis O'Hara later forming Reverend with David Wayne (former Metal Church vocalist). With that said, there are a few similarities in sound with the Church, with a mix of thrashing riffs and a strong (but not overbearingly cheesy) power/heavy metal sound. Good riffage to be found, so worth looking out for if you're a fan of the style. Metal Blade Records.

Hyste'riah G.B.C. - Snakeworld

More obscurity here from the strangely named Hyste'riah G.B.C. (their name coming from the amalgamation of two separate bands, and wanting to use both names - Hyste'riah & God B.C!). This is old school fast paced thrash, with decent tempos and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. Not an easy CD to find, this is an original pressing on Hellhound Records.

Hellbastard - Natural Order

Hellbastard started out as a straight up crusty hardcore punk band, but come 'Natural Order' (their 2nd proper album), they resembled something much closer to crossover thrash (with a lot of bay area kicks). As for most early 90s thrash, this has long missed the genres peak so was passed by by most, but there's still some gleams of teeth gritting, neck snapping awesomeness to be found. Earache Records!

Harter Attack - Human Hell

Harter Attack was the main project of Rich Harter, hailing from New Jersey USA. Appearing in the thrall of the US mid-to-late 80s thrash wave, they were very close to Nuclear Assault (in fact, Dan Lilker and Glenn Evans both helped to write some material here) and had a great thrashing vibe as you would probably expect. They pumped out this album in 1989 to decent acclaim, but unfortunately never managed to follow it up with a sophomore release (though, they did reform in 2011 - so watch this space!) . This is an original CD pressing on Metalcore Records, long out of print and worth tracking down.

Havoc - Father Jones

Another slice of obscurity here with Havoc, from Washington USA. Ignoring the overly Christian lyrical stance, this is some decent US heavy metal with touches of power. Father Jones (1992) was their only full length release, before they disappeared altogether a couple of years later. Only pressing on B&N Records, not particularly easy to find these days.

Helstar - Multiples of Black

Here we have the much maligned fifth full length album from US power/speed metal crew Helstar. Released in 1995, a time when a lot of the 80s metallers had gone nu or given up altogether, these guys were still churning it, albeit to a lesser quality when held up against their early glories. An original pressing on Massacre Records, this is one of the bands hardest albums to find for a good price.

Holy Terror - Mind Wars

The second (and final) album from US thrashers Holy Terror put them on the map as a real force to be reckoned with. Their debut had the power and force, but this was just a huge step up not just in terms of songwriting quality, but it just sounded reassuringly tighter too. Well worth tracking down if you haven't come across the name before, this album was aggressive and pissed - just the way thrash should be. An original pressing on Under One Flag.

Hellwitch - Syzygial Miscreancy

In addition to my earlier post of their EP on Lethal Records all those months ago (have a search in the box to the right if you want to check that out), here is the debut album from US underground masters Hellwitch. Technical as hell, and did I mention fast? The album clocks in at just over 25 and a half minutes of aggressive awesomeness. This truly is a classic, and should never be mentioned as anything less. An original pressing on Wild Rags.

Haunted Garage - Possession Park

Nice retarded crossover thrash here, from the long forgotten Haunted Garage. These guys disappeared into obscurity, but left us with this full length album to consider for the rest of eternity. Not that you'd want to - haha! Well, it isn't that bad, but it's fairly generic "leave your brain at the door" fun - they're called Haunted Garage for fucks sake, what do you expect?!. It has some alternative leanings which put off a lot of people too, but it's decent enough to throw on once in a blue moon. An original Metal Blade pressing, out of print - but not hard to find for a decent price at all.

Hellwitch - Terraasymmetry E.P

Most will know Hellwitch for their amazing debut from 1990, 'Syzygial Miscreancy', mixing death metal with technical thrash to great effect. This EP came in 1992, also on Austrian label Lethal (a label who ripped off a lot of bands back in the day when they disappeared pretty much without trace very suddenly). It doesn't quite have the bite as the debut, but still has highlights (though, there are only 3 tracks, so even for an EP, it's way to short for it's own good).

Horde - Hellig Usvart

Horde were pretty much universally hated due to their take on 'Unblack' Christian black metal. For years no-one knew who these guys were, many thinking they were part of the Norwegian, or even Swedish scene. But, it turned out it was just one guy who was in Australia's Christian death metal crew Mortification - Jayson Sherlock. Musically, it's OK I guess - the lyrics are WAY too preachy though, but what more can you expect from Christian lyrics I guess? An original pressing on Nuclear Blast.

Havoc Mass - Killing The Future

Here is Tampa's very own Havoc Mass, with their one and only album Killing The Future, released on Massacre Records. These guys got buried in the glut of death metal that was flying out of the Florida scene at the time. Even though their aggressive thrash bordered on death at times (especially the vocals), it seemed it was not quite enough for the majority of the local death heads who saw the style as old hat. Still, it stands the test of time pretty well I think, check it out and see for yourself.

Hypocrisy - Penetralia / Osculum Obscenum / Inferior Devotees E.P

The first two full length releases from Swedish death metal crew Hypocrisy, followed by their EP from 1994. High quality shit, as I'm sure most death metal fanatics will already know. All original pressings on Nuclear Blast.

Hexx - Morbid Reality

The third and final album from Hexx, the band with links to Autopsy via Clint Bower. Musically they were pretty different (especially the early albums which were more regular heavy/speed metal). This album saw them adopt a more aggressive thrash tone, with death metal influences. An original pressing on Century Media, out of print.