If you delve into the annals of metaldom, you'll find everything from the fathers of heavy metal, Led Zeppelin (by today's standards, not "heavy" at all), AC/DC (really more "hard rock" than metal), and Metallica to the speed metal of Megadeth to the grindcore/death metal people to the "grunge" metal of Alice In Chains and Sepultura to metal's close cousin, Gothic. Living Sacrifice draws on all of these sounds to produce one screaming, growling, noisy album with some pleasant surprises.
In all, I find the album quite interesting. At times the band shows surprising instrumental finesse. At these times, the band sounds more gothic than metal. That usually doesn't last long, though.
"Threatened" opens with this really cool acoustic guitar and evolves into a Metallica-like bridge to a Sepultura-like hardcore stance. A lot of the songs are like this. It is what makes the album stand out from the typical hardcore/metal offering. Unlike other albums in this genre, the band doesn't just grind away and scream.
I'm always amazed that the hardcore bands always have such spiritual lyrics, too. When I was a teenager, this kind of music was far, far away from Christianity. Today, it is some of the most spiritual you will find.
Another trend in hardcore is away from the ranting and raving about how much the world stinks (just listen to Klank's album) toward lyrics that praise God. A case in point is Living Sacrifice's "Spirit Fall:" "Repent and believe by His power; you'll be free."
I admit I don't care to listen to this stuff all the time. Maybe I'm getting too old. But, if metal and hardcore is your cup 'o tea, you should definitely check out Reborn.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #114Reviewed by Ryan ClarkWhat can I say about this album? It’s hard to describe the feeling that Christian metal-heads experienced upon first hearing Reborn. This was the album it seems we were all waiting for. Living Sacrifice had just signed to Solid State Records after quite a hiatus from their previous album Inhabit, and had experienced some major lineup movement, including Bruce Fitzhugh, who previously played…7ball #14Reviewed by Brad CavinessRarely has an album title been so appropriate. Living Sacrifice is indeed Reborn on its debut for Tooth & Nail Records. Gone are the death metal and grindcore references that made the band a joke to most fans of other musical genres. In their place are nods to artists like Helmet, Tool, Korn, and Six Feet Deep. The change is not imitative, but a natural extension of the band's previous image. The…The Blue Star Journal July 1997Reviewed by Kurt MorrisWhat am I supposed to say about a band like Living Sacrifice? Give me any of their old stuff and I'd kick you in the face. I hated them. They were stupid metal. But I went and saw them at Cornerstone and their show was incredible. So much energy, power, and just such a huge sound. So, I came home and bought the CD and haven't been disappointed one bit. The style of LS has changed into more of a…Critical Mass #3Reviewed by Tom EdmondsonLS pumped out three brutal albums in a short period of time (1991-1994) and then was out of the studio for about three years. During that time they lost singer/bassist DJ. Then guitarist, Bruce Fitzhugh, stepped in and took over as singer and Jason Truby's (the other guitarist) younger brother, Chris, took up playing the bass. This story, which isn't too unfamiliar in the Christian Metal scene…Similar sounding releases
2001As I Lay DyingBeneath the Encasing Of Ashes
2003ZaoLegendary
2005UnearthOur Days of Eulogy
2003Falling CycleThe Conflict
2003IntegrityTo Die For
1997ConvergePetitioning the Empty SkyMore from Living Sacrifice
2000The Hammering Process
1994Inhabit
2005In Memoriam
2002Conceived In Fire
1991Living Sacrifice
1993Metamorphosis
