 | Artist: Living Sacrifice Album: In Memoriam Label: Solid State Records Rating: 7 out of 10 |
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It”s a shame hardcore-influenced metal outfit Living Sacrifice broke up
in 2003. If they had only stuck it out a year or two longer, they might be
moving some serious units, as fellow genre leaders Shadows Fall and Lamb of
God have been doing lately. But In Memoriam is an appropriate name for this best-of collection, which serves as a solid epitaph for their too-brief career. The selections on Memoriam run in reverse chronological order, which is definitely a good thing. But let’s get the bad out of the way upfront the last six songs here are drawn from Living Sacrifice’s first three albums, originally released on REX Records during the early and mid-’90s. Musically, these death-metal songs are solid fast, heavy and well-played all around but the vocals from former frontman D.J. are extremely rough. At times, he strikes the right note the Metallica-biting old-school speed metal of “Obstruction” but at others (“Breathing Murder,” “Distorted), his guttural growls are atonal and just plain painful. Thankfully, after his departure from the band, guitarist Bruce Fitzhugh stepped up to the mic, and his roars which are alternately melodic, rhythmic and downright scary finally brought everything together. His tenure as head screamer is represented by 10 solid tracks two each from the group’s three-album run on Seattle indie Solid State Records, a compilation cut, and three brand-new songs. For the most part, these are well-chosen, but those who know Living Sacrifice’s catalog well might quibble with some choices. The Hammering Process’s “Local Vengeance Killing” definitely rocks, but “Not My Own,” which is heavy and has a killer hook, would have been a better choice, both for this collection, and that album’s lead single. However, the real selling point here for devotees are Living Sacrifice’s first three new songs since 2002”s Conceived in Fire, and they’re all keepers. With its impressive guitar work alternately chugging and fast-fretting and fierce vocals, opener “In Christ” proves the band members haven’t lost a step in their time away. The downtempo verses of “The Power of God,” which feature a mix of echoey whispered vocals and high-pitched screams over sparse musical backing, are unusual for Living Sacrifice, but the chorus is appropriately bludgeoning. The strongest of the bunch may be “Killers,” though from its lightning-fast, double-bass drums to the harmonized guitar leads and, um, killer chorus, it’s an instant classic that can sit proudly alongside the group’s best. A lot of newcomers to the scene might have been too young to appreciate Living Sacrifice during their late-90’s heyday, but In Memoriam should do a good job of bringing them up to speed. - Todd Thatcher |