Heathen was an American thrash metal band that was formed in San Fransisco in late 1984. They quickly became one of the most prominent Bay Area bands before splitting up sometime around 1991 as the interest for real metal was beginning to fade (another source says that they didn't break up until 1996). They reunited in the year 2000 and a new self-financed album was released in 2004. In the morning of May 23rd, 2005, former Heathen bassist Mike "Yaz" Jastremski sadly passed away. In late January 2006 the band signed a new contract with the French label Season Of Mist.