Customer Reviews

Human Sacrifice/Once Dead

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why'd I give this 3 stars? Because I'm not as fond of Once Dead as I am of Human Sacrifice. Don't listen to the reviewer below who gave these two albums one star...what in the world?? Human Sacrifice is one of the most rip-roaring, head banging thrash albums I have ever heard...intense all the way. You will feel like you were stuck in a machine and spit out once this album is over, you'll be thrashing every which a way. And every song is distinctly different, no repetitiveness. If you love thrash and have never heard Human Sacrifice, you don't know what you're missing. Yes, it does have a rather raw sound to its production and at times they may not be on time as a whole playing unit, but once you listen to this you won't care. For five guys who only played blues in 1987, I think they did one swell job. Now onto Once Dead, their second album (1990) and the last to feature the classic line-up before their split with Roger. I don't hate Once Dead, its just it never really hit off with me as well as Human Sacrifice. The first half of the album is good, esp. "The Whipping Post"...its still mainly a thrash album, and the prod. is better and they play fabulously. But I feel alot of bluesy influence has worked its way in. I'm sorry, but after about 6 songs this album loses my interest, why I don't know...go ahead throw tomatoes at me. It's still a great kicking album and you'll enjoy it anyhow...its not bad as a whole really though. I'm just weird with music. This would be a nice set to have if you wanna snatch the albums up together for a decent price. Oh yeah, lyrically, VR is quite extreme with their content..as the name suggests alot of the themes deal with God's judgement or are warnings to keep out of sin. Don't let that turn you off tho...hope my review helps.

Human Sacrifice. I dont care what you call it, death metal
blues, rock, pop or even jazz. Fact is, it is what it is,
the most kick [...] album of all time, full stop. The lead
work is absolutely searing. Far better than some of the
garbage lead work that is so prevalent in so much of todays
music, its so obvious some of them have been playing guitar
for all of 2 months. .
Human Sacrifice is my pick dont care much for the others.

Both these albums are essential for any Christian metal head. I'm sure everybody familiar with the scene knows the story of Roger Martinez by now. But regardless of his beliefs now Roger was a hardcore sincere Christian back in the day. The message in the Vengeance albums are hardcore and should be heeded. No matter what Roger is doing now he is still loved by God. Hopefully he will wise up

This CD features Vengeance Rising's first two releases (which were the only legitimate Vengeance Rising recordings as the entire band left after ONCE DEAD except for singer Roger Martinez. Hence, the band that released the last two VR recordings can more accurately be referred to as Roger Rising).

Vengeance Rising's brand of metal on the 1989 HUMAN SACRIFICE is powerful, inventive, varied and very heavy, not to mention well produced. A good example would be the entire opening to the song "White Throne." The follow-up was similar, but a bit less impressive. The problem is the supposedly gruff-styled vocals by Roger Martinez.

Gruff-styled vocals can powerfully work in metal, obviously because it's an agressive and passionate form of music. Such vocals can successfully be implemented in various ways, for instance, Slayer, Death, My Dying Bride, Bathory and Agolloch, to name a few. Unfortunately, Martinez's gruff style, albeit innovative, just doesn't work; his work on HUMAN SACRIFICE and ONCE DEAD sounds equal parts goofy, passionless and wholly manufactured. Adding insult to injury is that fact that he sounds exactly the same on EVERY freakin' song. Needless to say, Martinez completely RUINED whatever artistic contribution Vengeance Rising was trying to make to the metal genre, which explains why very few people even know they ever existed.

The lyrics are overtly Christian/biblical; it's refreshing actually. Gotta respect that.

3-Stars for the music on HUMAN SACRIFICE; 2-Stars for ONCE DEAD and 0-Stars for Martinez' pitiful attempts at "vocalizing."

It goes without saying that Martinez can be hailed as the absolute WORST vocalist in the history of all forms of metal (i.e. fake, contrived, silly, moronic). You gotta hear it to believe how bad it is.

This album is pretty good, but as for Roger's new direction, he is now an atheist with a severe hatred for the Christianity he once preached. Which brings up the question of was he ever truly saved at all. And if he wasn't can this album truly be considered Christian? Some thoughts to wrestle with... On a strictly musical review this and Once Dead are great albums but after Roger kicked out, or had a falling out with the other band members the music suffered. If the pauses were taken out between the songs on Destruction Comes, (In which Roger plays all of the guitars as well as sings) you would seriously think it is all one long song. pretty sad.

Yes my friends of this great indstry, this is one of the
world's finest albums of the decade 1990. For so long metal
has been classified in a devilish class of its own. But to bring
light in this world of maddness, this group does indeed bring
"spiritual healing" in there heavenly "dark" sound! this group
does not exist anymore, so anything that you buy of this band
is a collector's piece! Don't delay on the purchase of this for
you will miss out on a treat. If you are in to dark and evil
sounds, but do go to church, you need to get this gift from
GOD, for this is your album filled with the truth. If you are
the other guy, still don't miss out on some good music!!

Big Nutt

I remember listening to this band when I was in High School (early 90's) and I was amazed when I found out they where just not another metal band, but a christian metal band at that.. I feel that spreading the word of God using this form of music is AWSOME.. I say that if you like metal bands suchs as (Death, Venom, Slayer, Destruction, Sodom, Pantera ect.) Give this band a shot I feel that they will meet up to your standards, they have a crunchy sound, with strong metal chords, you would'nt know that it was a Christian Metal band untill you read the lyrics.. God Bless!

I remember listening to this band back in High School,(Early 90's) and I remember when I was told that this wasnt just another Metal band, but that it was a Christian band, this blew my mind. I feel that if you like the bands (Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, sodom, Death ect.) you will like Vengence Rising, and the sound of this band is great, they have a chrunchy sound with hard hitting power chords. You will not know that this is a Christian/Metal band untill you have read the lyrics.. Great Buy for both CD's Good luck and God Bless!!

These guys rock! This is some of the best death/thrash I've ever heard! Of course, my experience is limited to Human Sacrifice, but if that's any indication, then the rest of their stuff rocks! As for the previously mentioned "new direction" they've taken (previous review), I don't know anything about it, so I can't give any pointers. But I would highly suggest these CDs.

This albumn is awesome! Vengeance Rising was one of the best thrash/death metal bands around. To bad they changed their musical direction and ruined everything. Their new albumn 'Relms' is one of the all-time worst albumns ever conceived; don't waste your time and your hard earned money on that crap. Buy this cd and one of their first five albumns instead; they kick ass!!!