Living Sacrifice - The Infinite Order

Artist: Living Sacrifice
Album: The Infinite Order
Release Date: 1/26/10
Label: Solid State Records

After ending a four year hiatus in 2007, the kings of Christian metal have returned to reclaim their throne. Having released the two song digital EP Death Machine in 2008 and pushing the release date of their latest album The Infinite Order back two months, it felt as if Living Sacrifice would never release a new full-length album. Thankfully, The Infinite Order is more than worth the wait.

Musically, The Infinite Order is a no-holds barred metal album. It blends everything from thrash metal to death metal to metallic hardcore. The first four songs, "Overkill Exposure," "Rules of Engagement," "Nietzsche's Madness" and "Unfit To Live" are pure metal perfection. The second half, although not the perfection of the first, is killer. It boasts highlights such as "Organized Lie" and "Apostasy."

Living Sacrifice also enlist the help of a few couple well known guest vocalists. David Bunton of The Showdown, who provides background yells on "Rules of Engagement" and Joe Musten of Advent, who alternates screams with vocalist Bruce Fitzhugh on "Nietzsche's Madness." Both performances are well done and only enhance Bruce's feverish vocals.

The thrashy song structures that exist on most of the songs only add to the heaviness and create a crushing effect on the listener. The one complaint I have is the lack of tribal percussion that was present on Living Sacrifice's past masterpieces. It does however make an appearance on "Nietzsche's Madness" and "God Is My Home," adding more depth to those songs.

On a side note, I was lucky enough to have bought a copy with a hidden track entitled "Of My Flesh, Of My Heart." This song was intended for a European release only, but due to a mistake, the first shipment of copies released had the hidden track. It is a great song and adds another awesome track for your listening pleasure.

Rating: 9/10 It is great to see and hear the return of this legendary band. Thankfully, it is as if they had never left. To say they don't miss a beat is an understatement. With The Infinite Order, Living Sacrifice have created an album that is more than worthy to sit alongside their past masterpieces Young, breakdown happy bands would do themselves a favor by studying the songwriting of Living Sacrifice.

Reviewed by Matthew Alexander

Tracklisting:

1. Overkill Exposure
2. Rules of Engagement
3. Nietzsche's Madness
4. Unfit To Live
5. The Training
6. Organized Lie
7. The Reckoning
8. Love Forgives
9. They Were One
10. God Is My Home
11. Apostasy
12. Of My Flesh, Of My Heart (Hidden Track)

(Buy Here)