Time Signature Hidden agenda...

Genre: modern thrash metal

This release by Danish thrashers Sacrificial is a bit of a thrash metal gem if you like aggressive and technical thrash metal. Virtually all tracks are built around very solid riffs; riffage is obviously one of the strengths of this band, which is sadly put on hold these days, and not only are the riffs themselves well-wrought, they are also combined pretty effectively such that each track contains interesting changes and interesting inter-riff dynamics.

This is semi-technical thrash metal, and it obviously require a high level of musicianship to pull of thrash metal like this which offers both aggression and technicality. As with "AutoHate", Sacrificial's music on this release sounds like a hybrid of Artillery and Invocator in terms of technicality, but it also has the same sort of energy heard on Kreator's early efforts.

Recommended to fans of technical thrash metal.

UMUR "Erect : Eloquent : Extinct" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Danish thrash metal act Sacrificial. The album was released through Mighty Music in January 2000. It was produced by Jacob Hansen and Sacrificial. "Erect : Eloquent : Extinct" is the successor to "Forever Entangled" from 1993, so it took 7 long years for the band to release their sophomore studio album. There´s been one lineup change since the predecessor as guitarist Sebastian Nordqvist has left. Bassist Asmus Thomsen has therefore switched to guitar and new bassist Rico Holmer Andersen. The backbone in the band are still the Meier brothers Kræn (guitar) and Lukas (Drums) and lead vocalist John Hansen.

The 11 track, 45:12 minutes long album is in the unmistakable brutal and technically well played thrash metal style that Sacrificial are known for. Artists like mid-80s Dark Angel and other similar artists like Devastation and Gammacide are still valid references, but the 7 years between albums haven´t ben spend on nothing, and it´s audible that Sacrificial have found additional inspiration in the mid- to late 90s melodic death metal/post-thrash scene and there are as many influences from artists like At the Gates and The Haunted here as there are from the artists formerly mentioned.

Although new elements and influences have crept into the band´s music, the overall songwriting and sound haven´t changed that much since the release of "Forever Entangled" (1993). For better or worse...because while I really enjoy the aggressive approach and the band´s generally high technical level of playing the compositions seriously lack hooks and memorable moments. Unfortunately this means that the album quickly becomes a very monotenous listen and that the tracks end up sounding too much the same. Vocalist John Hansen has changed his vocal style a bit, which was also needed as his forced raw vocal delivery on "Forever Entangled" (1993) wasn´t the most pleasant listen, but his more "core" tinged aggressive screaming on "Erect : Eloquent : Extinct" really isn´t that much greater.

The sound production is professional, but it´s cold and clinical, lacking an organic human touch, which could maybe have provided the material with more life and power. Upon conclusion "Erect : Eloquent : Extinct" is a decent quality thrash metal release, but as mentioned above it´s certainly not a perfect one. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.