Artist: Living Sacrifice
Label: Solid State Records
Release Date: 9/24/02
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Conceived in Fire Artist: Living Sacrifice Label: Solid State Records Release Date: 9/24/02
Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Redwolff (8/21/02):
I received the "two-song teaser" a few weeks before the full album arrived, and after a couple spins of it I had already decided that Living Sacrifice were jumping on the nu-metal bandwagon. Now that I've given Conceived in Fire a real listen, I have to apologize to the band for thinking that. Unearth had a similar first reaction to The Hammering Process. I think we're all so used to hearing band after crappy band appear on the radio that it is an almost knee-jerk reaction to immediately dismiss anything approaching nu-metal. I have to say that although Living Sacrifice utilize standard nu-metal chugga-chugga and Brazilian-sounding percussion here and there, they are a far cry from Soulfly and their ilk. They have a lot more depth to them and don't try to pander to the mallcore kids by naming their songs things like "Jump Da Fuck Up."Solid State's press release for this album describes it as heavier than the previous album-- frankly, I didn't realize that Christian rock could kick so much ass. The production sounds a little muddy because it is so strong on the low-end to emphasize the percussion and bass. The vocal style on the majority of the songs is a mix between cookie-monster growling and hardcore with occassional effects that hearken back to industrial godfather Al Jourgensen of Ministry. The overall sound is more difficult to describe; the phrase "conceived in fire," used as the title of this album, has its roots not just in Christian theology but also in pagan mythology and has been used in a number of contemporary poems. This is almost an analogy for the varying sources that Living Sacrifice have pulled together for this release. The percussion utilizes standard punk beats with a little double-bass and touches of latino drumming heard in bands like Puya and Ill Niño. For most of the time the guitarwork is used to carry along the driving beat, but then out of nowhere will come a wailing solo. The band's website does not elaborate on the individual members' influences, but I expect they run the gamut. As a result, Conceived in Fire's release date is listed on hardcore, metal and Christian music websites. Everybody wants a piece of this.
Living Sacrifice's latest is not going to pass muster for serious death metal freaks like our dear Hel-- it's not quite that heavy. There are passages of clean singing (although not many) and slower, melodic parts on this disk. And there are aspects of nu-metal to it, I must admit. But as I dig that shit, I have to say that this is what those radio-toadies out there should aspire to be, if they're not too scared to try.
I'll conclude with a very nice sentiment from the last track, "Reach for the Sky":
Every day brings an awesome hope:
Grace will lead the way
And joy will follow.
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