Band:	Sacred Reich
Album:	Awakening
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	August 23, 2019
A review by:	nikarg

01. Awakening
02. Divide And Conquer
03. Salvation
04. Manifest Reality
05. Killing Machine
06. Death Valley
07. Revolution
08. Something To Believe

Another thrash band from the '80s decides to unleash a new album in 2019 after decades of musical drought. It's officially becoming an epidemic and I have to ask myself: is it really necessary? Well, in this case it is.

Sacred Reich used to be one of these bands that managed to gather a relatively large fanbase and stand out from the thousands of thrash acts that tried to make it in the '80s by imitating any of the Big 4. Despite the fact that Ignorance was very much infused by Slayer's Hell Awaits and Reign In Blood, and that The American Way sounded so possessed by Metallica's ...And Justice For All, what saved Sacred Reich from being just another uninspired copycat band was their talent in writing good songs and their scathing attack on politics as far as the lyrics were concerned. The plague that hit most thrash acts in the '90s saw them release two more groove-/grunge-/alternative-stricken albums that justifiably received a lukewarm reception. They reunited around 2006 and have been touring frequently ever since, and -quite unexpectedly- they have a new album now 23 whole years after Heal. And it is aptly named Awakening.

If you were disappointed (why?) by the punk rock song "Don't Do It Donnie" that was part of the split release with Iron Reagan earlier this year, fear not my fellow thrash fan. Awakening is by and large a pure thrash metal album with eight songs that expertly balance speed and groove; there is the speedy thrashing kind of "Awakening", "Divide And Conquer" and "Revolution", but also the groovy attitude and swagger of "Salvation" and "Killing Machine". In a league of its own is "Manifest Reality", which begins with an "Inner Self" intro (or "Death Squad" intro to be fairer) and then goes all Slayer on you. However, the two most surprising songs are "Death Valley", with its southern hard rocking vibe, its catchy lead guitar work and its grunge-y chorus, as well as "Something To Believe" with riffs that follow the cool bass lines and drum rhythm, and Rind singing from his heart that "love's the only way to live our life each day". Yeah, that's what twenty years of Buddhist practice does to you.

Apart from the very interesting and varied -for thrash standards- songwriting, musicianship is also on point in Awakening. The album was recorded with significant line-up changes; founding member Greg Hall has been replaced by former Sacred Reich and Machine Head drummer Dave McClain, and guitarist and also founding member Jason Rainey unfortunately had to step down due to health reasons and was replaced by Joey Radziwill, who wasn't even born when the last Sacred Reich record came out. Despite the changes, the band sounds very tight and especially McClain is a king behind the drum kit. The quality of this record, as opposed to the lack of it in Catharsis, proves that his decision to take the reverse route to the one he followed in 1995 was a very wise one.

Awakening is a very mature offering. It makes its statement in just over 30 minutes and shows how experience and maturity enhances the art of editing and fat-trimming, so that only what is necessary is being included. It is in no way soft, instead it's pretty heavy and aggressive, but it is also positive and optimistic. Frontman Phil Rind has managed to channel his anger into creativity and Sacred Reich have released one of the best albums in their career in freaking 2019. Who could predict that?

"When I was young, I had to change the world.
Now I know I can only change myself."