
Volume Six
(High Roller Records)
41:00min
Some old Thrash Metal veterans of the 1980s will get shining eyes when the name SACRIFICE is mentioned. Their first three albums “Torment In Fire” (1986), “Forward To Termination” (1987) and “Soldiers Of Misfortune” (1990) received more than great response in the underground with great justice. Yet the Canadian quartet never got the fame they really deserved, as they were at the wrong place at the right time. Being a recording artist for the small but exquisite Canadian label Diabolic Force was not the best foundation for world domination, but at least they made SACRIFICE known to those who cared for brilliant, unpolished Thrash Metal. The year 1993 saw not only a disappointing fourth album (“Apocalypse Inside”) but also the split of SACRIFICE. But it was only a temporary split, as the band returned in 2006 in the original line-up that recorded the first three albums. Nevertheless SACRIFICE were not too active since that reunion, some shows, two live recordings and a fine studio album (“The Ones I Condemn” in 2009) were added to the vita of the band. But the silence is finally over. After sixteen years, there is a new offering from SACRIFICE, a whole new album (not really) inspiringly titled “Chapter Six”. And this album shows that SACRIFICE, still in the line-up of their comeback, are far from being boring old geezers. The opening ‘Comatose’ might start off a little bit solemn, but turns into a thrashing inferno after a few seconds: the guitars rip, the drums are galloping and Rob Urbinati shouts out perfect Thrash metal vocals. SACRIFICE are definitely old school, yet they are far from being frumpy. “Volume Six” sounds fresh, also due to the fine production and the great variability that forty years of songwriting bring along. We have songs like ‘Antidote Of Poison’, that rages mainly in mid-tempo and comes along quite elaborate, or ‘Underneath Millenia’, with a doomy beat and progressive structures, or the instrumental ‘Black Hashish’, with some psychedelic vibes that might needs a joint as special support. On the other hand, the album lives from shorter high speed bullets like ‘Missile’ (perfectly fitting title), ‘Incoming Mass Extinction’, the instrumental ‘Lunar Eclipse’ or ‘We Will Not Survive’. These songs are old fashioned in the most positive meaning, breathing the spirit of the glory days of Thrash Metal. In the end, SACRIFICE even turn the screw back to their early days and probably original influences with ‘Trapped In A World’ that fits the days when the real Crossover of Hardcore Punk and Thrash Metal was quite a thing. This one features Brian Taylor as guest vocalist, who not only produced the first three albums of SACRIFICE but also was a singer in a Punk band in the early 1980s – thus the cycle is complete. To sum it up, “Volume Six” will not leave you dissatisfied if you were either a fan of SACRIFICE back in the days or love good old Thrash Metal in general. And anyone who loves analogue musical media will also be pleased, as the album will be out on vinyl (in various different colour variations) and tape as well. So don’t hesitate to visit the band at www.facebook.com/sacrificecanada or the label at www.facebook.com/hrrecords
Thomas Meyer
• SACRIFICE - The Ones I Condemn (Matthias Auch)
• SACRIFICE - The Ones I Condemn (Manolis A.)
• SACRIFICE - Forward To Termination (Frank Stöver)
• SACRIFICE - 198666 (Laurent Ramadier)
• SACRIFICE - Torment In Fire (Frank Stöver)
• SACRIFICE - Soldiers Of Misfortune (Frank Stöver)
• SACRIFICE - Re-Animated (Frank Stöver)
• SACRIFICE - Interview (Steven Willems)
• SACRIFICE - Interview (Laurent Ramadier)
• SACRIFICE - Interview (Frank Stöver)