How much does nostalgia count when reviewing an album? I'm not sure, but I know I liked this so very much the first time I heard it...YEARS ago. So when I heard Solid State was repressing the older LS albums, and I knew I didn't have a CD of this one, I was excited. I went to the store pretty quickly after the release and was even more excited to see the original artwork on the cover, and not some label re-do that doesn't represent anything.
With that aside let me say this....W-A-R-N-I-N-G to all fans of Living Sacrifice's REBORN album. If you have not heard their previous material you will be shocked.
Let me go back a little. See this "NEW" self titled Living Sacrifice album you are seeing on the shelves of your local store is not new at all. Indeed it's their first release from back in 1991.
Just flip that CD in your hands over and check out the length of all four band members hair in those days! Yes they do thrash it out on this album, and it is good.
That's right this is a thrash album, a beginning for the band before they traveled into the depths of death metal with their finest offering Nonexistent which Solid State should have repressed and available any time now. I don't guess this is really any surprise though, if you've been into Living Sacrifice for any length of time you know this is a band who tends to NOT copy themselves. This album is definite thrash their next was pure and simple Death Metal, the following (Inhabit) was leaning toward the experimental almost progressive side of metal, and then their Metalcore sound with Reborn. So whether or not you like thrash just understand this is a part of what the band is.
So prepare yourself for a musical beating filled with blazing fast guitars that are just incredibly technical at the same time. None of that off-time stuff we've been hearing so much of this is a well oiled machine.
The insert is redone with some nice live pictures from "back in the day" with that previously mentioned long hair flying! Unlike some reprints all song lyrics are listed which is very nice, and it even includes a walk though on the recording of this album by Bruce and D.J. which really gives you some insight. It also helps you get through the obvious lower production of the albums sound.
So let me just cut to the chase here. You hardcore/metalcore fans may want to listen to this one before dropping your cash on it. It's an incredible album, but it's NOTHING like Reborn. Thrash fans of the late 80's early 90's please do not hesitate to get your butts out there and mix it up with this CD spinning in your CD Player. This is ENERGY!
8/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by NecRoSarXStraight-up thrash. Another CD that receives massive amounts of playtime in my player. Most who know Living Sacrifice only through Reborn may not get into their debut release much, but for those longing for more speed and thrash-oriented metal in the vein of classic Slayer and Kill 'Em All-era Metallica, Living Sacrifice is something you don't want to pass up. And, thanks to Solid State Records,…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by GrindboyThis album, originally released by R.E.X. in 1991, has just been re-released by Solid State. If you've just been introduced to the band with Reborn, be advised that Living Sacrifice has reinvented themselves more often and dramatically than any other band I can think of. One recording gives you very little idea of what to expect with any other. This album is pretty much what you would expect out…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Josh SpencerI still remember when I first heard this album back in 1991, and how wide my eyes got as the first sick wall of dirty distortion blasted into my ears. To this day, no other Christian metal album has captured pounding pure heavy thrash like Living Sacrifice's debut. Younger fans who only know Reborn will either recoil from this or embrace it as a classic from the era of aggression they never knew.…Heaven's Metal #31Reviewed by Jeff LottThrash fans, get ready: the debut album by Living Sacrifice smokes! Being on R.E.X., I expected Believer or Sacrament clones, but clones they are not. They have borrowed elements of these bands, Lance Garvin's drumming reminds me of Sacrament, while D.J.'s vocals remind me of Believer; but overall, for a thrash band, they do have their own sound (if that's possible in thrash). Musically this CD…Similar sounding releases
1993PossessionThe Unnameable Suffering
Drop DeadDeath by Fusion
1996UltimatumSymphonic Extremities
1990SacramentTestimony of Apocalypse
1988Vengeance RisingHuman Sacrifice
1994Six Feet DeepStruggleMore from Living Sacrifice
2000The Hammering Process
1992Nonexistent
1990No Yielding to Ungodly
1997Reborn
1994Inhabit
1993Metamorphosis
