Ahhh, Sacrifice. This is the album which first introduced me to these guys way back in 1987. For weeks after this came in the mail I could be heard on the subway chanting "Feel the rush, destroy the mind, saved from hell, CYANIDE!". Needless to say, that was unfortunately all that I remembered about this little gem until Rob picked it up again last week. The first thing that impressed me again was the excellent guitar work, and the suprisingly crisp production for the time. Of course, this was released in the heyday of speed metal, where chops were king, and guitars were standard tuned for your listening pleasure. Sacrifice essentially created a time capsule, capturing all that was there for us in the late 80's era of metal. Some similarities to countrymates Razor, but it's Urbinati's unique voice and searing riffs that set this apart. Standout tracks Re-animation and Cyanide are just killer chunkage, ready to tear your head off and accompanied by some really sweet leads. The album does tend to sound a bit "dated", but in a time where bands who try to imitate this sound are being signed by the dozen, it's refreshing to hear once again where it all came from. If you can find this I definitely recommend picking it up. A solid release for those who miss speed metal like I do.

This is hailed as the greatest Sacrifice album, and it's easy to see why. To my ears, the biggest improvement is in the drum department, where new addition Michael Rosenthal just reigns supreme! Production is also crystal clean (courtesy Dave Carlo of Razor) and accents the superb chops these guys have acquired. Music is still good ol' fashioned speed metal, just done to perfection here. A little jazzier than their prior releases (again, thanks to Rosenthal), this album just kicks. If Time-Life ever creates a Speed Metal Series, the title track will be song number one, guaranteed! Unfortunately, a Swan Song for the band, as they would split into Interzone and Hunnytruck after this tour. Again, worth getting before they all disappear, check Metal Blade for availability.