Sacrifice “Volume Six”
Volume Six merch and physical release formats will be available on February 21st via
Cursed Blessings Records
Thrash is one of the earliest forms of metal and during its undisputed reign in the 80’s saw the formation of localized sounds and country specific champions dubbed “The Big Four.” The most recognizable hail from the USA (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax) though Germany’s four are also quite influential on the world stage (Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, and Tankard). The Great White North also have their own four champions of thrash who are all active and tour to this day. One of the most notable is Sacrifice, a quartet who have a solid history and following despite their limited catalogue compared to their counterparts of 40 plus years.
Sacrifice formed in 1983 in Scarborough, Ontario (Canada) and took major influence from both the underground metal and hardcore punk scenes. In classic thrash icon fashion, the quartet were just teenagers when they released their debut Torment In Fire in 1986, which quickly established them as a band destined for great things. Their next two albums, Forward To Termination and Soldiers of Misfortune, are fiercely debated among fans to be crowned “the best album” the band has ever produced. The former is a fierce injection of adrenaline and speed straight to the head while the latter is more methodical and dynamic; think early-Slayer savagery versus golden age Metallica creativity. In fact, both albums managed to break into pop culture discussions in Canada due to their influence. The 1987 music video and song “Re-animation” was chosen as one of the promotional theme songs for Much Music’s long running metal music video show, The Pepsi Power Hour that ran from 1986 to 1991. In 2013, NOW Toronto Magazine canonized a list of “50 Best Toronto Albums Ever” which included Sacrifice’s third album Soldiers of Misfortune. One of the only metal music albums on the list. In 1993, after releasing their fourth album Apocalypse Inside, the band decided to call it quits as they saw that other genres in metal were gaining massive popularity while their thrash counterparts began chasing trends or softening their sound; a compromise they were not willing to make. It was only until they were invited to play sold out reunion shows in 2005 that the quartet began flirting with the idea of writing new material that would still be true to their 80’s sound. With a roaring vengeance, they returned with their fifth album The Ones I Condemn in 2006. Which boasted a cleaner, modern production and was very well received from old fans. Quality over quantity seems to be the name of the game for Sacrifice as they now return, 15 years later, with another furious and creative offering that will captivate old and new fans across the world.
Volume Six was written between 2020-2023, during a time of apocalyptic chaos and uncertainty. This influenced both the sonic output and lyrical content, which is quite furious. The opening track “Comatose”, for example, is directly speaking on the drug epidemic decimating the infamous Downtown East Side of Vancouver, British Columbia. An experience members saw first hand while playing in the city. The song starts off with an ominous tone that quickly launches us into a perfectly old school thrash attack where clearly the whole band is dialed in. Rob Urbinati’s harsh vocals resonate as powerfully as they did in the 80’s. Joe Rico’s leads and solos are melodic and tastefully composed to work with the song. Scott Watts’ bass supports the low end with attitude and groove. And finally, Gus Pynn precisely keeps the war machine rolling at top thrash speeds, but also architects some of the more creative parts of the album. Songs like “Missile” and “Your Hunger for War” directly criticize the wars that were started during these years, while “Incoming Mass Extinction” criticizes shawty policies that are designed to harm the human population and ecosystems. One of the most unique songs of the album is “Underneath Millennia”. As it showcases Sacrifice’s knack for creative song composition and a slight leaning into more groovy and atmospheric territories. The song opens with Gus playing a sort of groovy linear beat around the kit, mostly using the toms; a beat that returns a few times during the song. The guitars, although still thrashy, add a few longer holds on certain notes that are dissonant and incorporate melodic scales that intertwine with bass lines in the sort of chorus sections. Rob’s vocals also get accentuated in parts with a robotic-like lower register. The band tunes into a Voivod-like proggy groove towards the last quarter of the song that is unexpected yet quite welcomed in context of the album’s flow. The fastest and angriest song on the album is called “We Will Not Survive” and proves why certain fans call Sacrifice “the Slayer of Canada.” Not only do some of the riffs and drumming have that evil feel that we all love but the song gives Joe the opportunity to rip through two fitting solos.
There is one major surprise on this album that is a first for Sacrifice’s discography but have become staples of the iconic albums of the genre; the coveted instrumental track. The band however take it one step further and actually include two instrumental tracks on this record; each with its own unique vibe that helps break up the thrash onslaught. The first is “Lunar Eclipse,” a groovy song that showcases a brighter expression of Sacrifice’s sound and twin guitar lead tradeoffs between Rob and Joe. The second is “Black Hashish,” the longest song on the record and the most dynamic song in the band’s discovery. The almost doomy song drifts in with female chanted vocals and an evil atmosphere that is reminiscent to Slayer’s “Seasons In The Abyss” before opening up into an echoey section with guitar swells, adding more textures to the composition. One of the best solos from Joe then rings out before the band gets into yet another groovy pocket with jungle beats and multiple short bass solos.
I also want to highlight the addition of the “Trapped in A World” cover by Toronto hardcore punk outfit Direct Action. Not only does it perfectly compliment the album’s themes but it pays homage to the Toronto roots where Sacrifice cut their teeth. Featuring friend and producer Brian Taylor (of Youth Youth Youth) on vocals adds an additional hardcore dimension to the album.
Many bands with the reputation of being icons in the thrash genre have made comebacks in the scene after years of hiatus, but not all are successful in doing so. Sacrifice, on the other hand, have not only done this successfully but arguably have created an album in Volume Six that may be a contender to battle it out within the top three albums in the band’s discography. The album has a poignant message to tell lyrically and the music is as ferocious as it was in the 80’s. The band’s distinct ability to compose blistering fast metal as well as more complexly layered pieces with ease is on full display here and arguably has only improved over their career. If you are a long time listener of Sacrifice you will love this album but it won’t be your new number one. However, for those of us who are newer to the band or are a rabid fan of the genre as a whole, this album represents the best that thrash has to offer and is a must listen.
SCORE: 5 / 5
FFO: Slayer, Havok, Destruction
You can pre-order your merch and physical copies on Cursed Blessings Records
official website today and pre-save the album on all digital streaming sites.
