This album is hot! It doesn't match the intensity of their classic debut, but it doesn't disappoint. More of the bands roots (the blues-metal of the early 70's) show up here than before, which is performed with guts and precision. I thought the snare drum sound in some songs could've been beefed up some more, but these five guys continue to amaze me with their creativity and prowess at speed metal. The standout cut, in my opinion, is the anti-drug tune: "Can't Get Out", which features a change-up in the vocal delivery by Roger Martinez. The chorus has a great hook that begs to be sung along to. Some of the other vocal changes are in "Out of the Will", where he sings with a kind of British accent - sounding like Anthrax; "Frontal Lobotomy", with super-growling vocals; and "Among the Dead", where he's just wailing with desperation as he basically cries, "Time here is so short...we've got to redeem the time." One tune not penned by the band goes back to their roots: Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'". Roger gives it a new meaning - the Rapture of God's saints. I wonder what Ritchie Blackmore is going to think if and when he hears it. It's definitely undergone the thrash transformation. A great addition here is the inclusion of scripture references amidst the lyrics; inserted exactly where they back up the lyrics. This makes for a good Bible study. Try going over the song "Among the Dead" before an evangelistic excursion... Fans of thrash will love this album, and those on the fence between thrash and straight-ahead metal will be glad to know that Vengeance Rising has expanded their sound. Check it out.
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by NecRoSarXSeveral steps better than Human Sacrifice, Once Dead finds the legendary thrash metal band Vengeance Rising probably at their peak. The music's tighter, the production's better, the direction's a bit more focused, and Once Dead featured the original band line-up before all but Roger Martinez vamoosed to form Die Happy. Several tracks have made my frequent listen list on here: "Warfare", "Can't…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by undeadAs with the former Human Sacrifice, this album takes right up in the thrash vein where Vengeance left off. While Sacrifice had scattered pieces of brutality mixed in with slower groove parts, Once Dead churns at a slightly faster pace than the former. I find that this makes for a more enjoyable album. If possible, Roger Martinez's lyrics seem even more bold, and the leads of Larry Farkas are…Adonai Metal Rock #4Reviewed by Delphine “Dédé”Translated from the original French Zombie friends, fear no more for your old bones, in this low world VENGEANCE RISING has a very good one for you!! This powerful quintet of thrashionisers reoffends, indeed, in the "radicalism" department. You surely remember "Human Sacrifice", their first tender on the ring of Thrash Music, where the metallurgeous companions brandished on the sleeve the…Similar sounding releases
1999Dodgin BulletsSoundtrack to the End of the World
2004The Blinding LightThe Ascension Attempt
1999Castahead / IntercedeSplit
2001xDisciplexDoxology
2001Grace for the FallenField of Blood
2000A Life Once LostOpen Your Mouth For The SpeechlessMore from Vengeance Rising
1993Anthology
1992Released Upon the EarthVengeance Video
1988Human Sacrifice[title unknown]
1991Destruction Comes
