Living Sacrifice

Item: Living Sacrifice
Author: Josh Spencer

(1991)

Reviewed by Josh Spencer

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Label R.E.X. MusicThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

speed metal thrash metal

I 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. Hail to Tooth & Nail for re-releasing it, an unexpected move for the mostly punk/hardcore label. You know Brandon Ebel was always a closet metal fan....

So, the music. The main criticism, which still stands, is that the album sounds really close to Slayer. Usually, having a Christian alternative to non-Christian bands is completely unnecessary, but what believer would want to listen to Slayer's blasphemy anyway? Living Sacrifice almost reaches the same levels musically, filling each song with handfuls of killer riffs to make the headbanger lick his lips in anticipation, and cranking the same big brutal drumbeats like a freight-train barrelling down the tracks. Differences would be slower and less plentiful leads, and less dynamic vocals. Instead of the bubbling bile of Slayer's Tom Araya, original Living Sacrifice vocalist D.J. favors a monotone shout. Vocals have always been Living Sacrifice's weakpoint. At least here you can understand them, but it still takes a bit away from their impact.

They definitely have the traditional metal dependence on images of violence for lyrics, as in the description of the final judgement of "Phargx Imas":

Harvest of the earth now takes place
Divine authority to remove the disgrace
Permission given the sickle is swung
Gathered together in the press they're slung
With great wickedness the vats overflow
Rising high, simulation of the flood
Return to ruin valley of blood

But they encourage the Lord's example in dealing with our fellow man now, in "Dealing With Ignorance":

Mention Christ in effect
Stubbornly backs will turn
Void of knowledge declining to understand
Scraps of information forcing knowledge to expand

Dealing with ignorance
Realize patience through observing the tolerant
Exercise gentleness toward those who are ignorant

Beyond examples like these, though, the band makes use of highly theological lyrics that cause the listener's brow to furrow in concentration one moment and their hands to lift in praise the next.

Don't know how well this will go over in today's limp musical climate, but if you're one of the few who pick it up anew or again...make sure you crank it loud and pound your fist in the air. That's the way we did it in the old days.

4.5 tocks