UMUR "Shallow Grave" is the second full-length studio album by Finnish death/thrash metal act Sacred Crucifix. The album was released through CFTN Distribution in May 2009. It´s the successor to "Aeon of Chaos" from 2004 although the two full-length studio albums are bridged by the March 2008 "From Beyond to..." EP.

Stylistically the material on "Shallow Grave" continues the heavy and melodic death metal style of the material featured on the "From Beyond to..." EP. You can hear the band´s raw and aggressive thrash metal style here and there, but Sacred Crucifix have more or less left that sound behind on this release. Lead vocalist/bassist Miku Mertanen deliver a fierce snarling performance and he is one of the greatest assets of the band´s music. The instrumental part of the music is very well performed too though, and "Shallow Grave" is overall a good quality release, featuring high level musicianship, heavy and creative songwriting, and a massive meaty sound production, which suits the material well.

Upon conclusion "Shallow Grave" is another proof that Sacred Crucifix are a quality act, who finally have become able to produce and release label releases, which (which they for various reasons were deprived of during their original run from 1987-1990). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "From Beyond to..." is an EP release by Finnish death/thrash metal act Sacred Crucifix. The EP was released through CFTN Distribution in March 2008. It bridges the gap between the band´s debut- and sophomore full-length studio albums "Aeon of Chaos" (2004) and "Shallow Grave" (2009). There´s been one lineup change since "Aeon of Chaos" (2004) as guitarist Sami Taimela has been replaced by Toni Kyllönen.

Stylistically Sacred Crucifix have changed their sound a slight bit since "Aeon of Chaos" (2004), as I´d say the pendulum has now swung more towards death metal than thrash metal, which wasn´t how the elements were distributed before. The early demo releases by Sacred Crucifix were brutal and raw thrash metal, which subsequently featured more and more death metal elements, and "Aeon of Chaos" (2004) was a really heavy, meaty, and aggressive thrash metal release featuring quite a few death metal traits. "From Beyond to..." is more purely a death metal release, and it´s a good mix of old school death metal and melodic death metal.

Featuring five tracks and a total playing time of 22:25 minutes you get quite a bit of quantity here considering that this is an EP release, and only opening track "The House" was later included on "Shallow Grave" (2009). Although I miss the aggressive thrash metal elements of the previous releases, Sacred Crucifix pull off playing this heavier and more melodic death metal style with both ease and conviction. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Aeon of Chaos" is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish death/thrash metal act Sacred Crucifix. The album was released through Poison Arrow Records in October 2004. While "Aeon of Chaos" may be Sacred Crucifix debut album, the band has a rich and influential history in Finnish extreme metal, releasing their first demo of aggressive and raw thrash metal in 1987 under the Criminal Assault monicker, but maybe more importantly the 1989 brutal thrash/proto-death metal demo "Realms of Darkness" (by then under the Sacred Crucifix monicker). Various circumstances prevented the band from getting a label deal and they disbanded in 1990 after releasing three demos. Two of the original members reunited in 1993 and brought in new members to record the "Demo 1994", which showed the band playing a more technical death/thrash metal style, but again they failed to secure a label deal and disbanded in 1996. However Sacred Crucifix aren´t easily killed and the original lineup who recorded the legendary "Realms of Darkness" demo reunited and recorded "Promo 2003" which finally secured Sacred Crucifix a label deal.

...so 17 years down the line since their inception Sacred Crucifix have finally gotten the chance to release a full-length studio album and judged by the quality of "Aeon of Chaos" it´s long overdue. Stylistically this sounds pretty much like "Realms of Darkness"-era Sacred Crucifix (although it´s generally a bit heavier), which I´m sure most fans of the band are very content with. So this is brutal and raw thrash metal with the occasionally more death metal oriented part thrown in. Lead vocalist/bassist Miku Mertanen has a caustic sounding voice and an intense aggressive delivery, the riffs are sharp, aggressive, and heavy, and Sacred Crucifix are generally the type of thrash metal act who take no prisoners. They can add a melodic lead or a slightly more atmospheric section for effect, but otherwise it´s mostly about darkness, savage aggression, and brutality.

"Aeon of Chaos" features a powerful, raw, and heavy sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly and upon conclusion "Aeon of Chaos" is a welcome comeback and good quality debut album from Sacred Crucifix. They sound like they mean it, and like there´s a ton of hunger left in them, which is what you want to hear from a revived band. No signs of fatique or just doing it to cash in (not that you would cash in playing this type of music). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Demo 1994" is the fourth demo recording by Finnish death/thrash metal act Sacred Crucifix. The demo was independently released in 1994. Sacred Crucifix originally existed from 1987-1990 (first under the Criminal Assault monicker but from 1988 onwards under the Sacred Crucifix monicker), but disbanded after releasing three demos and not being able to secure a label deal. However drummer Janne Kela and guitarist Tommi Määttä reunited and regrouped the band in 1993 and recorded this demo with guitarist Jarkko Petosalmi, bassist Esa Ahola, and lead vocalist Tommo Nevala.

While the demo includes re-recorded versions of "Vlad the Staker" and "Chosen One" from the "Demo 1990" demo, Sacred Crucifix have added a level of technical playing to their core brutal thrash metal sound, which wasn´t heard on the previous material by the band. I´d say that contemporary Death and "North From Here" (1993)-era Sentenced aren´t the worst references, although Sacred Crucifix are generally a little more raw and savage sounding. But there´s certainly a technical death metal element heard on this release.

"Demo 1994" features six tracks and a total playing time of 19:14 minutes packed in a powerful, clear, and detailed sound production. These guys are professionals and it´s a crying shame they weren´t able to release anything but demos during their original run (1987-1990), and not during this second run either. Sacred Crucifix disbanded again in 1996 without releasing anything else than this demo in this incarnation of the band. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Demo 1990" is the third demo recording by Finnish death/thrash metal act Sacred Crucifix. The demo was independently released in December 1990. It´s the successor to the "Realms of Darkness" demo from June 1989, which is a demo often mentioned among the seminal thrash/proto-death metal demos coming out of Finland.

The material on "Demo 1990" continues the raw and brutal thrash metal style of the previous demo, but adds even more death metal brutality and heaviness to Sacred Crucifix sound. I´d still label this thrash metal, but it´s certainly in the most brutal end of the spectrum.

Sacred Crucifix were always a well playing act, and they also handle their instruments with great skill and conviction on this demo release. Lead vocalist/bassist Miku Mertanen has a fiercely aggressive vocal style and a caustic delivery, which is one of the great assets of the band´s sound.

Unfortunately "Demo 1990" would be the last release by the original incarnation of Sacred Crucifix, as they disbanded shortly after its release. Two of the members left for army service and one moved to Sweden, making it impossible for the band to continue. They would however regroup in 1993 and start a second run. "Demo 1990" is a great quality release, and it should have secured Sacred Crucifix a label deal, but although it looked promising once or twice, all possibilities fell through. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.