Band:	Living Sacrifice
Album:	The Infinite Order
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	January 26, 2010
A review by:	Dane Train

01. Overkill Exposure
02. Rules Of Engagement
03. Nietzsche's Madness
04. Unfit To Live
05. The Training
06. Organized Lie
07. The Reckoning
08. Love Forgives
09. They Were One
10. God Is My Home
11. Apostasy
12. Of My Flesh, Of My Heart [bonus]

It is always exciting when one of your favorite bands comes out of retirement. The anticipation begins to build with every new snippet of information that gets published. Then the inevitable questions arise; "Is this going to be really good?" or "will this be another St. Anger?" One always hopes that the album will be strong but it seems more often than not the comeback is a letdown. With great pleasure I can state that is not the case here.

Living Sacrifice returns to us with yet another unrelenting Thrash Metal assault. The Infinite Order is more mature and straightforward than their previous albums with it's profession and no-nonsense approach. The tempo-changing riffs switch between the melodic and brutal with top-notch precision while the rhythm propels each song forward. Like any good Thrash album, guitar solos are present and fulfill their goal of rounding out the musicianship without detracting from song structure itself. The snarling vocal lines bring out the passion and seriousness of their lyrics while the shouting/chant style choruses add an extra layer of force.

Being one of the most predominate bands in the history of Christian Metal, Living Sacrifice are unapologetic in their worldview. The most consistent theme of this release is the power of the Gospel and overcoming the meaningless materialism that encompasses this world. Filled with imagery of redemption and grace in a world that has fallen this is not the feel good bubbly "Jesus is my girlfriend" lyrics found in much Christian music.

If The Infinite Order is any indication of 2010 in Metal then it is going to be a great year. Living Sacrifice is back and (maybe) better than ever. This album makes no apologies and offers nothing but intensity.