Sacred Reich
Awakening
Release Date: Aug 23, 2019
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Heavy Metal, Speed/Thrash Metal
Record label: Metal Blade
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Album Review: Awakening by Sacred Reich
Very Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 7/10
Awakening is the long-gestating fifth full-length effort from veteran Phoenix-based crossover thrashers Sacred Reich, who alongside contemporaries like Testament, Death Angel, Destruction, and Dark Angel, helped to establish the second wave of the thrash metal movement of the late 1980s. Employing a lethal blend of sociopolitical lyrics and neck-snapping speed metal strapped to a hardcore punk chassis, the band issued four influential albums before ceasing operations in 2000. Led by bassist/vocalist Phil Rind, the group re-formed in 2006 for a series of live shows, but it took another 13 years to get back into the studio.
Based on rating 7/10
It's been almost a quarter of a century since Sacred Reich released an album, but the band never fully went away — they toured consistently and put out Live at Wacken in the meantime — so it's genuinely interesting that they would pick this moment to drop Awakening. Hell, new rhythm guitarist Joey Radziwill wasn't even born yet when Heal came out in 1996. What could they be hiding up their sleeves? Sacred Reich have certainly spared no expense with this one. Roping in metal's new super-producer Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Code Orange ….
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