ALBUM REVIEW: Awakening – Sacred Reich

A lot can happen in the space of 23 years, bands have rose to prominence and sadly some have fell by the wayside as the field continues to become ever more competitive. Thrash metal legends SACRED REICH have a large task ahead of them to bounce back from their extensive hiatus but they have made their triumphant return in the form of fifth studio full length and follow up to 1996’s Heal entitled Awakening which is due for release on August 23rd via Metal Blade Records. Can they roll back the years and show that class is permanent?

Awakening commences with pulsing drum beats and a crunchy guitar tone exuding a nostalgic 80’s vibe from the offset. The unmistakable gritty melodies of Phil Rind‘s vocals ring out opening the door for impressive shredding. With the album off to a flying start Divide And Conquer ups the tempo with hard hitting riffs and high energy, the powerful bellows throughout the chorus hit their mark. The returning Dave McClain leaves his stamp on the track with flawlessly executed bursts of drumming. This spills over into Salvation as the aggressive riffing packs an impactful bite. Further memorable vocal hooks ensue swiftly followed by enticingly layered guitar work.

Manifest Reality opens with mechanical clattering which segues into punchy guitar work that begins to gather pace as it progresses. Solo work washes over the track with a sea of intense sweeping and it wouldn’t be a thrash song without some signature divebombs thrown in for good measure. Killing Machine kicks into gear with short snappy guitar segments and a groove infused vibe. The lyrical content is particularly war driven as bodies are inevitably fed to the Killing Machine. Enticing guitar work is clinically executed which adds an extra level of proficiency to the track. Death Valley maintains an addictive beat whilst treading down a more blues influenced path. Hints of cowbell cheekily sneak into the arrangement as soothing vocal passages work their magic.

Revolution comes charging towards you with thumping drum work and a punk fuelled tempo. The riffing displayed is particularly intoxicating and you could well find yourself humming it long after listening. Last but certainly not least Something To Believe lets Rind‘s thundering bass lines lead the way alongside his soulful vocals and edgy riffing. Sometimes all you need in your life is a straight up, no frills metal track and this ticks all the boxes.

It was never in any doubt but SACRED REICH are back with a bang. Despite a lengthy hiatus there are no signs of rust to be found, if anything they sound better than ever. There is so much to appreciate within Awakening and it easily holds its own against some of the genre’s biggest hitters. If you are too young to remember their earlier releases this is the perfect time to become acquainted and if you’re lucky enough to have experienced their prior material the first time round then you are certainly not going to be disappointed.

Rating: 8/10

Awakening is set for release on August 23rd via Metal Blade Records.

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