UMUR "Heal" is the 4th full-length studio album by US, Arizona based thrash metal act Sacred Reich. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in February 1996. It´s the successor to "Independent" from 1993 and features the same four-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor. Drummer Dave McClain would leave the band in 1997 to join Machine Head, and although Sacred Reich remained active for a couple of years with a returning Greg Hall on the drums, they went into a hiatus from 2000-2006 and it wasn´t until 2019 that they would release a new studio album again.

"Independent (1993)" was quite the big change in sound from "The American Way (1990)", but there haven´t been a similar drastic change in sound between "Independent (1993)" and "Heal", as the latter pretty much continues the groove/heavy metal sound of the former. The songwriting has taken a dip in quality though, and there aren´t that many memorable tracks featured on the album. The fast-paced album opener "Blue Suit, Brown Shirt" is for example a completely forgettable track. To my ears the title track is one of the few tracks on "Heal" which reaches the quality of the songwriting on "Independent (1993)" (which was also a bit uneven in quality). "Heal" features a fairly well sounding production, which suits the material well.

Sacred Reich are as always a well playing act, and lead vocalist/bassist Phil Rind has a unique voice and vocal style (the Jeff Bridges of heavy metal). That fortunately saves a lot for Sacred Reich, because upon conclusion "Heal" isn´t the most interesting release by the band. They occasionally shine and they definitely have an easily recognisable sound (which is always a plus), but I can´t justify more than a 3 star (60%) rating.

Kingcrimsonprog The 1990s were not kind to a lot of Thrash Metal bands. Some broke up. Some went soft or tried new styles. Some went too progressive or too extreme. Some just ran out of good ideas.

There are of course, always exceptions to every trend. Heal by Sacred Reich is one such exception. This album is an underrated gem. Now; They may have moved into a Pantera-influenced Groove Metal style for half the album, which could be off-putting to die hard Thrashers, but half the record is still aggressive speedy Thrash and the songs that aren’t are way better than you’d expect from anything in 1996 anyway.

Part of what makes it work so well is Phil Rind’s vocals are perhaps the best of his career. He really developed over their career. Another thing that makes it work so well are that the songs are just so damn catchy and memorable. Finally; The slower moments really help the band’s trademark political and socially aware lyrical content easier to come across. When its not 1,000mph, you get to take it in a bit more.

As described above, its an album of two halves. Highlights from the faster stuff includes “Break Through” and “Don’t” which are punchy and energetic, and perhaps best of all the furious album closer “The Power Of The Written Word” which is perhaps the band’s most pissed off song since their debut. (Talk about going out with a bang).

Highlights from the slower stuff include the Sabbathy grooving Title Track, the memorable “Blue Suit, Brown Shirt” and the very fun “I Don’t Care.”

Even the Oingo Boingo cover works. The only thing that doesn’t quite do it for me is “Low” which is a bit too Alice In Chains for even my tastes. People who thought that tracks like “A Question” from the previous EP or “Crawling” from the last album weren’t Thrashy enough may want to avoid that one track in particular. (Don’t let it put you off trying the whole record though).

After this album, drummer Dave McClain would go on to join Machine Head for around two decades and Sacred Reich would break up and only play intermittently over the years. (Although things have come full circle now, with the band back full steam ahead with their superb new album, Awakening, and guess who’s behind the kit?).

Although their comeback record is superb, for the last two decades this was a fine ending to the Sacred Reich story. It may not be all fast, all the time, but it is all entertaining, all the time.