HERETIC - Breaking Point - 12" Vinyl LP Album

- A Thrash-Powered Farewell Before Metal Church Beckoned

Front cover of HERETIC Breaking Point album. The artwork depicts a close-up of a homemade time bomb with red dynamite sticks wrapped in black tape, orange detonation wires, and a timer clock reading 11:55. Surrounding the device are crumpled newspapers with headlines about hijackings, police, and murder, adding to the tense, explosive theme.

"Heretic's 'Breaking Point,' a poignant chapter in their musical journey, echoes through the grooves of the 12" Vinyl LP. Released prior to the band's dissolution following Mike Howe's departure to Metal Church, this album remains a testament to their artistic zenith. Notably, some members found new musical avenues, contributing to David Wayne's project Reverend. The vinyl format immortalizes Heretic's legacy, capturing the essence of their sound before the inevitable evolution of its members."

Album Description: 

After the album "Breaking Point" had been released, Mike Howe joined Metal Church, and Heretic fell apart. Some of the members later appeared in David Wayne's (ex-Metal Church vocalist) project Reverend .

"Breaking Point" is the first official full-length album released by the American Power/Speed/Thrash Metal band "Heretic". This album was produced by Bill Metoyer and Kurt Vanderhoof. Sound engineers have been Brian Carlstrom, Ken Paulakovich, Leon Johnson, Scott Campbell. In Europe the album was released under the "RoadrunneR/Metal Blade Records" record label.


This album "HERETIC Breaking Point" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos of Heretic. 

Bill Metoyer is a legendary music producer and sound engineer known for shaping the sound of heavy metal. As Vice President and in-house engineer at Metal Blade Records in the 1980s, he worked with iconic bands like Slayer, Armored Saint, and Flotsam and Jetsam. His expertise in capturing metal’s raw intensity has left a lasting impact on the genre. Learn more on his biography page.

Bryan Carlstrom (Brian Carlstrom) an versatile and experienced Producer and Sound Engineer in rock, hip-hop, punk, jazz, heavy metal, etc. This document covers the heavy metal bands and albums he has produced or engineered during the 1980s, which include bands like "Sacred Reich", Tyrant, Incubus, Pandemonium, etc.

Ken Paulakovich is a sound engineer who started in the mid-1980s and has engineered several dozen of albums. Bands he has worked for, include bands like "Sacred Reich", Tyrant, Incubus, Pandemonium, etc.

"Brian Carlstrom" and "Ken Paulakovich" having been working on the same albums on several occasions. These albums include: "Money Talks - Cryptic Slaughter", "A Distant Thunder - Helstar", "Serpent Temptation - Incubus", "The Kill, Pandemonium", "Ignorance - Sacred Reich", "Depths of Death - Sentinel", "Too Late to Pray - Tyrant". "Scott Campbell" worked also with them on "Money Talks - Cryptic Slaughter", and "Tyrant - Too late to Pray".

Scott Campbell a Freelance Sound Engineer has been engineering (in the late 1980s) the vinyl albums of several Heavy Metal bands including: Sacred Reich, Flotsam And Jetsam, Bitch, Masi, Heretic, Rigor Mortis, Dr Kow, Tyrant, Cryptic Slaughter

Music Genre:

 USA Power / Thrash Metal

Album Production Information:

 The album: "HERETIC Breaking Point" was produced by: Bill Meteyer and Kurdt Vanderhoof

Record Label & Catalognr:

 Metal Blade Records / RoadrunneR RR 9534

Media Format:

 

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

 1988 Made in Holland
Band Members and Musicians on: HERETIC Breaking Point
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Mike Howe - vocals
  • Bobby Marquez - guitars
  • Brian Korban - guitars
  • Dennis O'Hara - bass
  • Rick Merrick - drums
Complete Track Listing of: "HERETIC Breaking Point"

The Songs/tracks on "HERETIC Breaking Point" are

  1. Heretic 03:32
  2. And Kingdoms Fall 04:50
  3. The Circle 05:13
  4. Enemy Within 03:16
  5. Time Runs Short 06:31
  6. Pale Shelter (instrumental) 03:35
  7. Shifting Fire 03:54
  8. Let 'em Bleed 03:01
  9. Evil For Evil 03:49
  10. The Search 07:02

HERETIC Breaking Point Album Photo Gallery:

Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of HERETIC Breaking Point album. The artwork depicts a close-up of a homemade time bomb with red dynamite sticks wrapped in black tape, orange detonation wires, and a timer clock reading 11:55. Surrounding the device are crumpled newspapers with headlines about hijackings, police, and murder, adding to the tense, explosive theme.

The album cover of HERETIC - Breaking Point is an intense and ominous composition featuring a close-up view of a makeshift time bomb. At the center, several red dynamite sticks are tightly bound with black electrical tape, with a tangle of bright orange detonation wires extending across the image. A circular timer clock, showing a time of approximately 11:55, is prominently positioned, heightening the sense of impending destruction.

Scattered around the explosive device are crumpled newspapers with dramatic headlines such as "Colombia hijacker seizes jet for a day" and "Police witness murder," reinforcing themes of chaos and violence. The dim, reddish lighting casts a foreboding atmosphere, making the scene feel even more intense. The band's logo, HERETIC, appears in jagged red and gold lettering at the top left, while the album title, Breaking Point, is displayed in bold, distressed red font along the right edge against a yellow-green strip.

This striking cover perfectly complements the band's aggressive, high-energy sound, capturing themes of tension, danger, and raw power.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of HERETIC Breaking Point album. Features a deep blue background with a large, ornate hourglass with red sand flowing through its glass chambers. To the left, a vertical strip contains five small performance photos of band members: Dennis O'Hara, Brian Korban, Mike Howe, Bobby Marquez, and Rick Merrick. The album tracklist is displayed in bold gold text.

The back cover of HERETIC - Breaking Point presents a visually striking image with a deep blue background that emphasizes a grand, metallic hourglass at the center. The hourglass has an ornate brass frame, and red sand is actively flowing from the top chamber to the bottom, symbolizing the passage of time and impending fate. The lighting casts a dramatic glow on the glass, creating an almost surreal effect.

To the left, a vertical strip bordered in gold contains five small, high-contrast performance photos of the band members. Each musician is captured mid-performance, including Dennis O'Hara (bass), Brian Korban (guitar), Mike Howe (vocals), Bobby Marquez (guitar), and Rick Merrick (drums), highlighting the energy and intensity of their live presence.

The album's tracklist is elegantly displayed in bold gold lettering against the blue background, divided into two sides. Side One includes: "Heretic," "And Kingdoms Fall," "The Circle," "Enemy Within," and "Time Runs Short." Side Two features: "Pale Shelter (Instrumental)," "Shifting Fire," "Let 'Em Bleed," "Evil for Evil," and "The Search." At the bottom, production credits for Bill Metoyer and Kurdt Vanderhoof are listed.

Additional elements include a small "Metal Blade Records" logo and a price sticker in the upper right corner, adding to the authentic vintage aesthetic of the album's original release. The combination of dark hues, gold text, and the symbolic imagery of the hourglass reinforces the album’s themes of urgency, time, and heavy metal intensity.

Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve of HERETIC Breaking Point album. A black and white band photo features five members in classic 80s heavy metal attire, with long hair, leather, and denim. To the right, a text panel lists band members, special appearances, technical crew, and acknowledgments, along with the band's fan club address.

The custom inner sleeve of HERETIC - Breaking Point features a striking black-and-white photograph of the band members. They stand together in a dramatic, high-contrast shot, dressed in quintessential 1980s heavy metal fashion. From left to right, the lineup consists of Dennis O'Hara (bass), Brian Korban (guitar), Mike Howe (vocals), Bob Marquez (guitar), and Ricky Merick (drums). Their outfits include studded belts, leather vests, open jackets, and denim, reflecting the aggressive and rebellious energy of the era.

On the right side of the sleeve, a structured text panel provides detailed information about the band and album credits. It lists the core members along with special appearances, such as Stu Fujinami on keyboards and additional background sounds. A section titled "The Best Group of Tech’s on This Earth" acknowledges the technical crew, including drum and guitar techs.

The bottom section includes a fan club address: Heretic, 23451 S. Main St., Carson, CA 90745, offering fans a way to connect with the band. Additionally, the phrase "Not Manageable, But Directed By: Ron Laffitte and Jennifer Perry" is prominently featured, adding a touch of humor and attitude to the credits.

This inner sleeve captures the band's raw energy while providing fans with behind-the-scenes details, reinforcing their place in the 80s heavy metal underground.

Close-up Photo of Record Label
Close-up of HERETIC Breaking Point vinyl record label. The Metal Blade Records logo is prominently displayed in red at the top. The label, printed on an off-white background, includes the album title, tracklist for Side A, and production credits. The record is identified as RR 9534-1, Stereo, 33 RPM, and made in Holland. The text curves around the center hole of the black vinyl disc.

This close-up image showcases the Side A label of HERETIC - Breaking Point, pressed under the iconic Metal Blade Records label. The design features a clean, off-white background with bold red lettering at the top displaying the Metal Blade Records logo, consisting of a stylized red blade and the label name in uppercase letters.

The album title, "Breaking Point", is printed in bold, black text, followed by the tracklist for Side A. This side contains five songs:

  1. "Intro/The Heretic" (Korban) - 3:33
  2. "And Kingdoms Fall" (Korban) - 4:52
  3. "The Circle" (Korban) - 5:14
  4. "The Enemy Within" (O'Hara) - 3:18
  5. "Time Runs Short" (Korban) - 6:33

Below the tracklist, production credits note that the album was produced by Bill Metoyer and Kurt Vanderhoof. The copyright details at the bottom indicate that the album was released in 1988 under Metal Blade/Roadrunner Productions b.v.. The label also features standard legal disclaimers, including restrictions on reproduction, lending, and public performance.

The label is marked with the catalog number RR 9534-1, and the format specifications indicate that this pressing is a stereo 33 RPM vinyl record. The black vinyl disc surrounding the label is visible, creating a sharp contrast with the lighter label design. The curved arrangement of text around the center hole adds to the classic aesthetic of 1980s vinyl pressings.

Featured Heretic Band Vinyl Records And Album Cover Gallery

Heretic is a band that has had a significant impact on the metal scene, particularly in the 1980s. Their raw and aggressive musical style, combined with socially conscious and thought-provoking lyrics, helped establish them as one of the rising stars of the metal scene. While the band may have disbanded in the late 1980s, their legacy has continued to inspire new generations of metal musicians and fans. The band's reformation in 2011 and subsequent release of their third album, "A Time of Crisis," serves as a testament to the enduring influence and importance of this seminal metal band.

Heretic Band Description:

  Heretic is an American heavy metal band that emerged in the Los Angeles metal scene during the early 1980s. The band is known for its aggressive and raw style of metal that blends thrash, power, and traditional heavy metal influences. Heretic's music is characterized by blistering guitar riffs, pounding drums, and soaring vocals that are often accompanied by thought-provoking and socially conscious lyrics. In this essay, we will explore the history and significance of the band Heretic in the metal scene.

  The band was formed in 1984 by Brian Korban, a guitarist and vocalist, and Julian Mendez, a vocalist. The original lineup of the band also included guitarists Rick Mead and Glenn Rogers, bassist Dennis Ohara, and drummer Ignazio Coppola. The band quickly gained attention in the local metal scene for their energetic live performances and the raw intensity of their music.

  In 1986, the band released their debut album, "Breaking Point," on Metal Blade Records. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike and helped establish the band as one of the rising stars of the metal scene. The album features a range of heavy and fast-paced tracks that showcase the band's dynamic musical abilities. Songs like "Torture Knows No Boundary" and "The Circle" are particularly notable for their aggressive and socially conscious lyrics that deal with themes of political corruption and social injustice.

  Heretic's second album, "Torture Knows No Boundary," was released in 1987 and marked a further progression in the band's musical style. The album featured more complex song structures and a greater emphasis on melody and harmony. The album also featured a cover of the Rolling Stones' classic "Out of Time," which showcased the band's ability to put their own unique spin on well-known tracks.

  Despite the critical success of their first two albums, Heretic struggled to achieve commercial success and disbanded in 1988. The band members went on to pursue other projects, with guitarist Glenn Rogers joining the band Deliverance and vocalist Julian Mendez releasing a solo album.

  However, in 2011, Heretic was reformed by guitarist Brian Korban, and the band released their third album, "A Time of Crisis," in 2012. The album was once again well-received by fans and critics and showcased the band's ability to continue evolving and experimenting with their sound. The album also featured guest appearances by metal legends like Ronny Munroe and Jim Durkin.

Heretic: Core Band Members

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Heretic has had several lineup changes, but these members were central to their legacy, from their early days in the ‘80s to their modern resurgence.

Classic Era (1985–1988)
  • Brian Korban – Guitars (the backbone of the band, present in nearly every era)
  • Julian Mendez – Vocals (*Torture Knows No Boundary* EP, also returned in later years)
  • Mike Howe – Vocals (*Breaking Point* album, later left to join Metal Church)
  • Dennis O’Hara – Bass (founding member, later joined Reverend)
  • Rick Merick – Drums (early years)
Reunion & Later Years (2011–Present)
  • Brian Korban – Guitars (the consistent driving force)
  • Julian Mendez – Vocals (returned for the band's comeback)
  • Angelo Espino – Bass (also known for playing in Bitch and other metal bands)
  • Ignacio Ocampo – Drums (joined during the band’s reunion era)
  • Glenn Rogers – Guitars (ex-Hirax, joined in the later years to beef up the sound)
HERETIC - Breaking Point 12" Vinyl LP Album
Thumbnail of HERETIC - Breaking Point 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover

Metal Blade Records RR 9534 , 1988 , Netherlands

After the album "Breaking Point" had been released, Mike Howe joined Metal Church , and Heretic fell apart.

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HERETIC - Torture Knows no Boundary 12" EP
Thumbnail of HERETIC - Torture Knows no Boundary 12" EP album front cover

Metal Blade Records MBR 1080 Restless 72170 , 1986 , USA

"Torture Knows No Boundary" is the first recording released by the Thrash Metal band "Heretic" from Los Angeles, California.

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