Formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989, when the members were still teenagers. Believer's Kurt Bachman discovered them, and got them a record deal. They started out playing thrash metal, similar to Slayer and even Believer, but went on to change their style several times. They are still around, and are hailed as one of the biggest bands in Christian extreme metal.

LIVING SACRIFICE (1991, 1999) SOLID STATE

This debut album went out of print long time ago, so my version is the re-release from Solid State. It was produced by Doug Mann and Kurt Bachman from Believer. It's heavy/speedy thrash metal, not unlike early Slayer. I don't care much for Slayer, and this album does not do all that for me either. It's an excellent debut, but I just can't seem to really get into the songs. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just a matter of taste. There are several bands that are big with most metal people, that I for some reason never get into. AC/DC and Motörhead are other examples.

Killer tracks: No Grave Concern

NONEXISTENT (1992, 1999) SOLID STATE

Living Sacrifice totally changes style on their second release. Taking on a brutal death metal approach, not unlike Cannibal Corpse. Ultra deep growls, making even Mortification sound like a church choir. They are still technical, and delivers tons of riffs, so I actually enjoy this CD! I think the vocals always was the downside to Living Sacrifice's other releases. This isn't my favorite kind of vocals either, but somehow it works.

Apparently Living Sacrifice re-recorded the song "Enthroned", with another vocalist, in 1999. But this is only available on a Solid State compilation album.

Killer tracks: Enthroned, Atonement

INHABIT (1994) R.E.X.

Here Living Sacrifice tries to mix the styles from the first 2 records. The music is death metal, but the vocals is the same as on the first thrashier album. It doesn't impress me more that any of their other releases. I bought this when it first came out, but sold it, because I couldn't really get into it. Later I bought my old copy back, when I became a more serious collector. So my version is the original R.E.X. release. Solid State re-released it, with a different cover.

Killer tracks: Breathing Murder, Darkened

REBORN (1997) SOLID STATE

This band just won't stop changing! From thrash to death, from fast to slow. This time it's like a mix of everything they've done in the past, combined with some more modern elements ala newer Sepultura. And I just found this album to be their finest effort yet. What a groove, and what a massive wall of sound! I can't stop nodding my head when I play this album. And the trick behind it seems to be riff-based extreme metal, yet played with a finesse I've rarely heard before. These are excellent musicians. And the growling vocals fits perfectly. Too bad the band decided to go even more modern, turning into a metal core band, on the albums following this one.

Killer tracks: Reborn Empowered, Awakening, Something More, Sellout, Reject

Living Sacrifice also appear on:  

V/A - 'ARGH!!! The Official R.E.X. Sampler'

Rocky Gray guest appearances:

Believer - 'Gabriel'

Related artists

Evanescence