Heir Apparent - Graceful Inheritance (1986)^{Release ID: 23325}

Seattle-based US power metal outfit Heir Apparent are one of those bands whose name you’ve seen floating around a lot in the metal scene over the years but who very few people you know have actually heard. They seem to have gained somewhat of a cult following for one reason or another but I wouldn’t have had the slightest clue about why before giving their 1986 debut album “Graceful Inheritance” (not a terribly metal title it has to be said) a few spins this week. Having spent a bit of time with it now I feel like I’m starting to get it though.

You see, Heir Apparent are the sort of metal band that appeals to the metal purists out there. They tick a lot of boxes as they’re unapologetically metal, possess some serious chops & are ambitious enough to draw in the prog crowd as well. I’m not sure I buy the whole “US power metal” thing though. One or two tracks of the thirteen tracks included are chunky enough to justify those sort of claims but the vast majority of “Graceful Inheritance” sits pretty close to Iron Maiden’s more progressive mid-to-late 80’s material & the production doesn’t see the album’s overall heaviness doing much to eclipse the NWOBHM in terms of aggression either with the guitar sound being fairly thin even if it is clear & effective. The traditional heavy metal tag would seem to be a btter fit for Heir Apparent in my opinion with three or four songs also meeting the criteria for legitimate progressive metal. I can only assume that it’s the higher register vocals that see people immediately making the connection to US power metal although the added weight of album highlight “Another Candle” & the fairly flat speed metal number “Nightmare” may also have contributed to this misconception.

There’s a general class about everything Heir Apparent do here with all three of the instrumentalists proving themselves to be very capable exponents of their craft. Guitarist Terry Gorle absolutely slays with a whole slew of impressive guitar solos & lead runs throughout the album while bassist Derek Peace (who would also feature on Savage Grace’s 1987 “Ride Into The Night” E.P.) makes full use of a Steve Harris-style position in the mix by showcasing his ambitious & creative technique. Front man Paul Davidson has a pretty good voice for this type of music too but I’m not sure you’d say he competes with the top tier. I could kinda take him or leave him to be honest but he’s not gonna disappoint too many fans of the classic heavy metal sound either.

There’s certainly enough quality on “Graceful Inheritance” to warrant investigation as it’s a very accomplished effort for a debut full-length to tell you the truth. One gets the feeling that Heir Apparent had been very active in honing their craft for the three years leading up to its recording as they offer a level of sophistication that very few US metal bands could match in the mid-1980’s. In saying that though, the song-writing is a little inconsistent as the album isn’t short of filler material, even if there’s nothing truly awful included. Those weaker moments tend to marry up with the occasions when Heir Apparent find themselves settling for more commercially accessible chorus hooks or simpler riff structures a lot of the time too as their strength is in their superior chops & expansive instrumental experimentation. Nonetheless, “Graceful Inheritance” is definitely worth a few listens for fans of Crimson Glory, Fifth Angel & Queensrÿche as it never sounds like the product of a band that deserves to drift off into the distance with very little fanfare.

A mesmerizing album crafted with intense care and attention to detail. Every single instrument is easily audible, and each are following their own patterns, adding to the main mix without trailing mindlessly behind a set melody or rhythm. While the music isn’t incredibly technical, it is definitely rather progressive, and include a lot of changing qualities that sustain interest throughout the 13 track album (that was A LOT of songs for a metal band in ’86.)

I don’t agree with the Power Metal label on this one, as only the speedy Nightmare has the chops to back that title up. However, it’s very evident this album fosters a genuine medieval feel to it, from the lush but cheesy keys down to the slow gallop riffs that certainly would be Power Metal if played at double speed. It’s amazing how melodic this album is, and sounds a lot like what Savatage would later become (Savatage themselves popularized the whole piano and operatic elements in metal, but these guys were doing it way earlier!).

Overall, a fantastically complete package with no weak points, plenty of variety and precise craftsmanship.