Heir Apparent - Graceful Inheritance (Reissue Review)

Seattle, Washington based Heir Apparent formed in 1984 after a year under the name Nemesis, with the addition of singer Paul Davidson and departure of original vocalist Corey Rivers being the driver of this change.  Playing a mixture of heavy metal and early power metal with some hints of progressive elements added in, like many in the mid-80s Heir Apparent came out of the gate with a well-defined sound and strong writing but would only release two full lengths before disbanding in 1990 and fail to reach the same level of notoriety as some of their peers.  Guitarist Terry Gorle revived the band and has kept things going in some capacity since 1998, with 2018 seeing the release of their comeback effort The View From Below with an all new lineup.  With this renewed interest, it makes sense that additional reissues and compilations would emerge.  Last year saw the Foundations II compilation courtesy of Vic Records, which brought together a demo and EP from the 1999-2003 period of the band’s revival, while 2022 sees Hammerheart Records head back to the earlier days with a reissue of 1986’s Graceful Inheritance.  Bringing a remaster and restored version of the original artwork after a few previous reissues changed the artwork entirely, heavy metal fans who have yet to hear this one for themselves will find this to be an album with plenty of staying power.

1986 was a significant year for heavy metal, with well-received efforts from Iron Maiden, Fates Warning and Queensryche, underground highlights from Metal Church, Omen, Crimson Glory, and Cirith Ungol, and albums from Judas Priest and Saxon that were heading in different directions and already dividing their established fanbases.  That’s just scratching the surface of what’s out there, and like me you’ve probably seen reissue after reissue in the decades since heralding material as a lost classic or hidden gem from that time.  Where so many others haven’t lived up to this claim and it’s clear why they for buried at release, Graceful Inheritance lives up to this title.  Across each of its thirteen tracks, Heir Apparent finds that perfect balance between the grittiness and bite of metal with melodies that draw you in.  There are moments where you can hear the incorporation of speed and melody that other US power metal bands were writing around the same time but tracks like “The Servant” pull in more traditional Iron Maiden style NWOBHM with galloping leads and that warm yet gritty tonality.  Graceful Inheritance could’ve easily run out of steam given the number of songs, which was a bit longer than some of the other albums from 1986 that come to mind, yet there’s hook after hook that sticks with you over repeat listens and the energy level remains at a high.  Whether you’re getting fast paced, majestic sounding leads that have plenty of fire behind them or somber ballads that drive tracks like “Keeper of the Reign”, there’s plenty of standout moments from the guitar and bass.  The bass in particular stands out in the mix, and the entire band showcases some technical and progressive leanings that start to pull in different directions.  Comparing this remaster to what I could find of the original online, the biggest difference seems to be that the sound has been cleaned up a bit and is better balanced, but I’m not sure that it’s a significant enough change for those that may have already have this in their collection.

There may be plenty of riffs that will stick with you over time, but it’s Paul Davidson’s singing that really makes Graceful Inheritance so special for me.  Going back to a lot of heavy and power metal debuts from long-running bands reveal vocalists still in the midst of finding their own style and offering some slightly rough around the edges performances, but that’s not the case here.  Davidson comes through here with singing that soars into the clouds yet still has a bit of grit behind it, capturing the operatic leanings of Queensryche’s Geoff Tate yet also having some flair of its own.  The soft yet entrancing harmonies that open “Another Candle” are an immediate highlight, and there are plenty of choruses throughout Graceful Inheritance that will have you wanting to sing along after the first few listens.  Anything bordering on power metal these days is known for cheese, and while you do get a little bit of that from Heir Apparentduring some of the more theatrical leaning passages and the spoken word courtesy of Terry Gorle on “Keeper of the Reign”, it fits what the band is going for.

As a thirty-something metal fan, it’s always been fun to listen to and review material from this pivotal period of heavy, power, and progressive metal.  Some of these reissues have revealed repetition, weak vocals, or other elements that made it clear why these bands were lost to time, but in Heir Apparent’s case this truly is a hidden gem for those that haven’t experienced it.  Almost all the thirteen tracks stand out, and while this didn’t radically alter the formula of traditional metal from the mid-80s you could still hear the band making tweaks that made them stand out amongst the crowd.  This reissue seems to be focused on getting physical formats back in print, as the version available on the band’s Bandcamp page looks like it might be one of the previous reissues with alternate artwork, but regardless of how you experience it heavy and power metal fans will likely find plenty to keep them coming back.  Only a few years later Heir Apparent would change significantly, switching singers and adding a permanent keyboardist, so it looks like I’ll need to dive into One Small Voice at some point to see just where they ended up.  Graceful Inheritance is available from Hammerheart Records.

-Review by Chris Dahlberg

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