The wait is finally over. The new Living Sacrifice album has arrived. Three years in the making, Bruce Fitzhugh and company have created a metal onslaught sure to become a masterpiece in the collections of metalcore fans.
With new lead guitarist Rocky Gray, new bassist Arthur Green, and the addition of percussionist Matthew Putman (the latter 2 formerly of Eso Charis), Fitzhugh and drummer Lance Garvin are joined by players that take their sound to new levels. The first thought is that Living Sacrifice is trying to ride the popularity of percussion instruments taking a prominent spot ala Slipknot. This is not the case. The percussion adds a dimension that Slipknot could only hope to attain. "Bloodwork" contains some of the most technical drumming this side of a Tourniquet album, and Garvin's manic beats are emphasized tenfold with Putman's tom fills and assorted percussive hits.
But perhaps the most notable difference is found in the lead guitar playing of Gray. One listen to opener "Flatline" shows that Rocky has come to claim his place as the man to single-handedly make guitar solos a staple in the metalcore genre. His lead playing is so convincing; it's impossible to deny his contributions to the album's intensity in guitar work alone. This is what would happen if Lincoln Bowen of Mortification were allowed to run rampant on record.
Fitzhugh's vocals are still coarse and grinding, but much more understandable and pronounced than on Reborn. And, in the vein of Embodyment's latest shift, there are melodic vocal parts shared by Bruce, Rocky, and Putman. "Altered Life" has an example of this, with its haunting melody lines. Surpassing the band's entire previous catalog, this new offering is sure to gain the band new fans while continuing to please the following they already encompass. Putting this band on a tour such as OzzFest would put them over the top with nu-metal fans everywhere. This album would go Gold instantly. It's a shame that may never happen.
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestA highly anticipated release from Solid State, that's what you can say about The Hammering Process. With the release of Reborn, Living Sacrifice's previous album, the band gained lots of new enthusiastic fans and inspired many hard bands worldwide. The Hammering Process features a new line-up as the Truby brothers left the band. They are replaced by three guys. Two of them were part of…Similar sounding releases
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