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Sacrifice > The Ones I Condemn > Reviews
Sacrifice - The Ones I Condemn

The Ones I Commend - 82%

Peacesells215, July 7th, 2014

Very rarely does a band disband for sixteen years and then suddenly reform. Even more rarely does the same band return to the studio and in turn, release one of their best albums. Of course its pretty obvious that Canadian thrashers Sacrifice have done just that. "The Ones I Condemn" is one of the best return to form thrash albums from the 'old guard' of thrash bands. Sacrifice may have possibly released the greatest album of 2009 with their fifth studio album. The progressive elements of "Apocalypse Inside" are not entirely disbanded. However, unlike "Apocalypse Inside," thrash is now the major input from these forgotten heroes. With riffs that resemble that of "Forward To Termination" and "Soldiers Of Misfortune," Sacrifice has achieved something very few thrash bands can even hope for...a damn strong album that not only adds a sense of nostalgia, but also encompasses their entire discography in ten pulverizing tracks. Yet they still manage to add new elements and production methods to keep their unique brand of well executed thrash from being cliché or predictable.

Rob Urbinati has the performance of a lifetime both vocally and on the guitar. The riffs are catchy and raw with a major 80s throwback. Vocally, his voice is more than potent compared to other bands from the 80s that have decided to return to the studio yet again. If Rob proves anything on "The Ones I Condemn" its that Sacrifice has aged quite well. In fact, time may be in their favor as most other veteran thrash bands (not all but most) are in a continual state of decline releasing lazy and uninspired work for a simple billboard position. Joe Rico's work is quite varied. Some solos would find a home on Sacrifice's debut "Torment In Fire" or "Forward To Termination." While Rico hasn't been the most technical lead guitarist in thrash's endless discography, he has his own distinct sound thus playing a major role in the success of "The Ones I Condemn" and Sacrifice's successful career as a whole.

Scott Watts (bass) exists to add substance between the guitar work and Gus on the kit. Speaking of the percussion department, Mr. Pynn gives the listener an intense and fulfilling showing with interesting fills. Throughout each track the kit is punished with his brutal efficiency, adding to the power of this underrated classic. These four men pour out endless amounts of talent to form this instant thrash classic. However, this album wouldn't be the monster it is without an excellent production job handled by none other than Urbinati himself and quite professional engineering as well. The album is not over compressed nor incredibly raw. In fact, I see the production as a modern copy of that from "Soldiers Of Misfortune." The drum work doesn't sound stale at all and actually carries a fair amount of weight compared to other thrash albums released in 2009 ("Endgame" and "Hordes Of Chaos" for example).

Overall, Sacrifice's "The Ones I Condemn" is one of the major highlights of 2009 and one of the best albums from a veteran thrash band returning to the studio once more. Although the album does have a few flaws (repetitive in places, chorus is forced in a few tracks) these are nothing too severe that would keep me from coming back for more. Had "The Ones I Condemn" been released in 1988-1990 it would be declared as an instant thrash classic with a few hints of "Apocalypse Inside." Welcome back gentlemen the thrash community needed this album. Sacrifice, the ones I commend.

WE...WILL...PREVAIL! - 87%

Metal_Jaw, March 7th, 2013

"Album number five from Sacrifice". Who thought they'd be saying it, huh? Well within all of the chaos of the thrash revival movement, we know a number of the old school badboys made a comeback along with a legion of eager newbies. Luckily, Sacrifice was one of the bands who hopped on board, ready to spit out a comeback album. Their 5th studio album, "The Ones I Condemn", is in my opinion one of the higher tier of thrash returns in recent years. It isn't terribly original or anything, but man oh man does this record pack a wallop when it wants to. Join in folks; how 'bout one more sacrifice?

The original lineup returns with a vengeance, performing with an admirably ass-kicking vigor that makes it feel like the last 15 years never even happened. Rob Urbinati's voice is still in top form, spewing harsh, hate-filled yells and roars that rival his work on "Forward To Termination". HIs guitar work, and that of the great Joe Rico, are both in high form as well; solos, riffs and fills still sound invigorated and badass on here. The bass of Scott Watts still doesn't play in much, though he does get to shine sometimes; a notable moment would be the thumping intro in "We Will Prevail". Gus Pynn doesn't forget his aggression but does leave his technicality at home; most of what we get from him on here is your basic thrash metal hammering.

Like I said, the songs on "The Ones I Condemn" are vigorous, aggressive and biting; admirable efforts from guys at their age. However that doesn't mean they're all totally good. You've got some energetic but bland thrashing in numbers like "Give Me Justice" or the generic "Atrocity", but most of what's on manages to slaughter the listener quite well. Primarily instrumental opener "We Will Prevail" flat out rocks; the semi-melodic main riff is just about as thrash as it gets, until the second half of the song. Then we crash into the title track, another pounding speedfest where Urbinati spews his cruel words while Rico slices riff after unrelenting riff. "Hiroshima" is another raging cooker in the same vein, while the ferocious, weirdly hardcore-tinged "The Devil's Martyr" features guest vocals from Dave Hewson of fellow cult Canadian thrash outfit Slaughter AND guitar work from Strapping Young Lad's Jed Simon. Don't forget the mid-paced masterpieces either; the dark atmosphere and sudden bursts of violence seen in "Tetragrammaton". Arguably the masterpiece on here is closer "Desolation Alive", an epic which goes through mood swings, tempo changes and spews out a satisfying machine gun fire riff attack.

Overall, "The Ones I Condemn" is great. I don't think it's Sacrifice's best, but it's a damn solid return and good start for anyone interested in the group. Everyone on here plays like it was still 1990; I still can't get over the youthful aggression and vigor presented on here. Welcome back Sacrifice; here's one album I won't condemn...

Two diamonds in the rough - 69%

MacMoney, February 23rd, 2011

Canada's Sacrifice was a band who never sounded the same on their albums. They started out as a primitive thrash band bordering on black and death metal of the time, not much unlike their country mates, Slaughter. You can clearly hear the amateurishness and immaturity of the band on Torment in Fire. They hit their stride on 1987's Forward to Termination and its more focused yet still aggressive, riff-centric approach. Unfortunately it took them four years to get another album out. By 1991 thrash was going downhill already even if Soldiers of Misfortune was a quality album with an even more mature approach. The quantity of riffs was much larger, the songs longer, more focused on the structures and technicality. The band tried out once more in 1993 before calling it quits. Toned down everything that was toned up on Soldiers of Misfortune without upping the things that worked on Forward to Termination. The album lacked focus and drive and ended up sounding like a messy experiment, the band taking wild stabs at all sorts of things.

Like so many other thrash bands before and after them, when the style became hip again they've decided to give it another shot. These reunions give varying results, usually low on the quality spectrum. However Urbinati & al manage to impress. They've managed to connect through to that aggression on Forward to Termination while retaining the technicality and song-centered approach of Soldiers of Misfortune and fused them with their current maturity. There are a bunch of ragers on the album, but even they are often tempered with more calmer and thought out verses which feature catchy riff constructions. The thrashing, manic parts of songs are the ones that sometimes end up sounding rather dated. The chorus of Give Me Justice is a good example. A very simplistic and tired sounding riff trying to be aggressive and Rob screaming out for justice, while for a proper thrash song to work in this context it should be more about random and wanton violence rather than dishing out an old man's revenge for whatever perceived slight. Ultimate Power Corrupts is much of the same with its hugely dumbed down riffs and streamlined vocal lines. It doesn't help that it is sandwiched between two much better songs.

Where the band really works very very well is the lengthier, mid-paced songs with numerous distinct parts, a whole slew of riffs and a well written narrative structure. Of these there are two: Tetragrammaton and the proper album finisher Desolation Alive. Both are vicious, massive and majestic songs that start off slow and slowly develop, building on what came before until finally reaching a fast and intense climax. These two songs are the ones that are representative of what Sacrifice can achieve, combining the technicality of Soldiers of Misfortune with their current maturity and leaving just enough room for the aggression of Forward to Termination. If the band can do an album full of interesting songs in that vein, they will have by far the best thrash album of modern times in their hands. As it stands now, this is an album with a couple of snoozers, a handful of entertaining, but forgettable songs and two of the best songs they've ever done.

All the vigor of their youth - 80%

autothrall, November 14th, 2009

The Ones I Condemn has arrived at last, another of those successful thrash 'comeback' albums which will leave your head spinning. Not only does it feel like Canada's cult thrash act retains all the vigor of their youth, but the energy on this album possibly exceeds that of their previous efforts. It's a great new album, and one of the best thrashings I've had recently, well on par with Apocalypse Inside or Soldiers of Misfortune.

16 years have not stripped away this band's penchant for snarling, mean sounding thrash metal, an approach not always the easiest to pull off. Their sound has always come across as the Canadian sibling to bands like Slayer, Exodus, Vio-Lence and Sadus: cruel vocals that deliver their message with aplomb, bursts of hook-laden guitars and a quickened pulse that would even have hardcore fans raising their fists in fury. "The Ones I Condemn", "Give Me Justice", and "Hiroshima" are all steamrollers of frenzy inducing 80s fury: listen loud, listen often. "The Devil's Martyr" nearly broke my neck, the vocals are wild and punishing, filthy and mean. "Ultimate Power Corrupts" features excellent old school rhythms, and for bonus kicks there are re-recorded version of "Burned at the Stake" (Torment in Fire) and "The Entity" (Forward to Termination).

From a production standpoint, the new album sounds a lot like their 90s output, but slightly better; but the writing more closely mimics their earlier efforts. It's really the best of both worlds, and if you've enjoyed any of their past four records then it's a given you should track this down. I know the 'comeback' album is quite a cliche these past 5-10 years, but I'm always happy to hear it done well. Sacrifice is successful in this. Now, if only Razor would put out a good new album...I would be complete.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

doubt if i'll hear a better thrash album this year - 95%

gk, September 20th, 2009

The Ones I Condemn is the result of yet another reformation of a kvlt 80s band and this time it’s Canadians Sacrifice who might have just made the best album of their career. The band was a decent if unspectacular addition to the heydays of thrash metal with one minor classic in the form of 1987s Forward to Termination. The band broke up in 1994 shortly after the release of their fourth album and returns now with the original line up and main man Rob Urbinati after a gap of 16 years with an album that matches the ferocity and conviction of Forward to Termination and maybe even surpasses it.

The album opens with We Will Prevail and right from that opening riff I was left in no doubt that this is as real as thrash gets. There’s no sense of referencing the past, being ironic or just reliving the glory days of a genre long past its sell by date. This is vital, old school thrash metal that will make you bang your head and raise your fist while still sounding modern and relevant. There isn’t a bad song on this album and the guitar duo of Urbinati and Rico pull of some absolutely killer riffs. Stand out tracks include the previously mentioned album opener We Will Prevail, the Exodus baiting The Great Wall, title song The One I Condemn and the awesomely heavy and mid paced Tetragrammaton. That isn’t all though as Hiroshima explodes with an opening riff that sounds like it’s the 80s all over again and is another heavy as fuck song. The Devil’s Martyr is a short sharp shock to the system with Urbinati adopting a slightly crossover style even as the band rage through 2 minutes of thrash metal mayhem and by the time Desolation Alive made its way through its labyrinthine seven and a half minutes I knew I’d heard something just a little bit special. The album rounds out with a couple of re-recorded songs from Torment in Fire and Forward to Termination.

The band sound terrific on this album. While the guitar duo of Urbinati and Rico kick immense amounts of ass, drummer Gus Pynn isn’t too far behind and bass player Scott Watts holds up the bottom end admirably while providing some pretty cool backing vocals. The band is playing on this album like the last 16 years never happened and it’s the 80s again. Like they have something to prove and are making up for lost time.

This is the best thrash album I’ve heard in a long while and while I don’t want to make comparisons to Exodus’s super comeback from a few years ago with Tempo of the Damned I am very tempted to. Give Sacrifice another chance. I doubt if I’ll hear a better thrash album this year.

Originally written for http://www.kvltsite.com

Terror Strikes Again! - 99%

MrLapinKulta, August 27th, 2009

How do you reappear after a 16 year long hiatus still sounding as fresh and crushing as ever? Hell if I know, but one man able provide a credible answer to that is Sacrifice mainman Rob Urbinati. The band's fifth and latest platter The Ones I Condemn is viable proof that such an endeavour is indeed possible.

When Sacrifice put their arms down following the release of 1993's Apocalypse Inside they did so without ever having gotten the recognition they deserved. Just like countrymen Razor they flew just beneath the mainstream radar. With the current thrash revival in full swing it seems quite appropriate to have these Canadians back in the game and, as stated in the opening phrase of this review, sounding as crushing and vicious as ever.

There have been lively discussions on various Internet forums during the past year concerning which direction Sacrifice would take their new compositions. Would they go old-school on our asses and unleash a Torment in Fire type black metal racket or would they stick to that proto-melodic death style of their final '93 album? Would they perhaps do an all guns blazing thrash album (Forward to Termination) or turn to a more technical variation on the same theme (Soliders of Misfortune). The answer is...none of the above. Instead they have done the smart thing and crafted an album consisting of what could simply be called Sacrifice Metal. Influences from all their previous albums are very much evident throughout and blended to a new exciting whole they provide a sound perfect for making a memorable comeback.

The most impressive thing about The Ones I Condemn is the solid craftmanship behind the songs though. After all that is what counts in the end. There are absolutely no fillers to be found. The more direct thrashers like the titletrack and Hiroshima are immediate favorites but when diving headfirst into the album over and over again new songs open up and the longevity of the album becomes clear. I could name every individual track on here as a favorite but to really appreciate the album it should be heard from start to finish. As should any album worthy of any kind of praise. One-hit wonders have no place in metal!

I think any fan of thrash metal, at least those with a leaning towards the extreme, will rejoice upon hearing this album and it is albums such as this that will justify the mainstream return of thrash as a whole.

Comeback of the year. Album of the year. So why not a 100 rating then? Nobody's perfect.