Customer Reviews

The Infinite Order

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Little Rock, Ark. metalcore band Living Sacrifice spent the better part of the 90s leading the underground movement known as Christian extreme metal.

Before breaking up in 2005, Living Sacrifice played music with all the hallmarks of extreme music, down-tuned guitar snarls of distortion mic'd for maximum destruction, guttural and aggressive vocal barks from vocalist Bruce Fitzhugh and chunky odd-time rhythms that pummeled the listener without hesitation. And they wrote songs about their deep devotion to Christianity and God. This contradiction of sound and fury versus the sacred verses limited the band's audience. After breaking up, their fanbase wept, but few others took notice.

Their 2010 comeback album The Infinite Order is so shockingly intense, it's a revelation worthy of people finally taking notice. "Overkill Exposure" kicks things off at a breakneck pace, recalling the opening of the band's 1997 stomper, Reborn. The song's lyrics address the sensationalism of media and its interference with a moral life. "Rules of Engagement" and "Nietzche's Madness" continue the trend, with the latter song also provides a scathing critique of atheism, a change of pace from the one-dimensional worship lyrics of the band's first few albums. This album explores the complex spectrum of human emotions that can accompany a person of Christian faith, expressing anger and rebuttal through violent sound.

"Organized Lie" turns the criticism back onto religion itself, deploring the blind-minded approach of organized religion and the loss of individual faith as a result. Riffs are a fusion of the band's early death metal grinding with rhythmic hardcore riffs from the turn of the century. Listening to The Infinite Order is like hearing a retrospective of the band's entire twenty-year career, including the bits of beautiful guitar-work hinted at on their 2005 greatest hits album, In Memoriam. Not many bands are blessed enough to take an eight-year hiatus and return more hungry and intelligent than when they left. Somehow, Living Sacrifice may have done the necessary praying for a Messianic comeback of this magnitude.

although I have only heard one Living Sacrifice song until now ("Reject"), I can sum up two words on this new album by Living Sacrifice: beef cake. this album is really fast. I would not say that they are faster than Morbid Angel or Deicide, but they have the power to run with death metal's masters. if you have this album in your hand, the next step is to put it in your CD player. you will be blown away by their power. this may be back for a second run in my stereo. this is death metal with a Christian message.

If you're a Living Sacrifice fan, or a fan of extra heavy metal in general, you won't be disapointed by this album. The first 9 tracks see them incorporating in elements from the earlier thrash/death metal part of their discography which is great but at the same time I was hoping for them to push the envelope a bit more as they have on the last couple of albums. However once I hit track 10 (My Home Is God) my hunger for their newer style was fulfilled. Track 11 and 12 also helped LS continue to move forward while still staying true to thier roots. If you haven't heard LS yet then start with In Memoriom (a great retrospective 'best of' album). However if you are already familiar with them then this album needs to be in your collection.

What a highly anticipated album from one the the most important and influential Christian metal bands out there. I can't say enough about this band, they really helped pave the way for the genre long before metalcore really took off. So being a longtime fan of the band I downloaded this album right after it came out. The Infinite Order is filled with much of the same brutality and driving rhythm that Concieved In Fire and Hammering Process had. One of my favorite tracks on the record is a song called They Were One, which has an awesome guitar riff and showcases the great drum talents of Lance Garvin. This guy could pound out a complicated beat with an odd time signature and hit it right on like a computerized machine.

It is overall a good album, and I will always be a fan. But, I have to be honest here. This is not Living Sacrifice's best album by any means. Much of it, with the exception of the above song I mentioned, is monotonous and lacking in dynamics. More then half the songs on the record feature the same basic jackhammer speed bass drum kick coupled with the palm muting chug of the guitars, which is cool of course, and a staple of any good metal song, but when it is repeated as many times as it is on Living Sacrifice's latest album it becomes boring. So don't get me wrong, I love these guys and always will, their music has been with me all the way from my angst-filled teenage years until my curent days as a 30 year old husband and father and I will always be a Living Sacrifice metal head. Why so many great bands tend to fall into this trap of making mediocre albums that aren't as good as their early work, I really don't know, perhaps it's the musician's equivalent to writer's block. If you've never heard any of Living Sacrifice's music before, my advice would be don't let this album be the first. Some of their best work they've ever recorded would be their 1999 album Reborn. Their previous release Concieved In Fire is also a great album, and if you want to hear their heaviest, most brtutal death metal type stuff, check out Inhabit!

From the album Conceived in Fire until this one there had been little activity from Living Sacrifice save for a few bonus songs on a best of compilation record in 2005 and a two song EP in 2008. Yes, they did some touring with Demon Hunter to promote Storm the Gates of Hell in 2008, but no body knew defiantly at the time if these guys where truly back in the game. They got their answer and in 2010 we where graced with The Infinite Order. While it does not sound very much like CIF and certainly nothing like The Hammering Process or Reborn, Living Sacrifice still has not forgotten about their thrash roots. There is plenty of rapid fire drumming and amazing solos, namely on the third track, as well as a couple of slow, yet intense, songs. However, it seems to lack the addicting sound that was present on The Hammering Process, which remains my favorite of their works to date. This testament to their still present musical prowess is certainly worth picking up.

Just like a fine wine, Living Sacrifice has only gotten better with age... "The Infinite Order" is evidence of that! After several years of "hiatus", the LS guys officially get back together to lay down one of the most brutally beautiful albums in years.

Bruce Fitzhugh is still at the helm with his riffage and vocals still in pure form. The bludgeoning rhythm duo of Lance Garvin (drums) and Arthur Green (bass) rivals any band on the scene today. Rocky Gray's shredding leads are second to none (AND, he's pulling double-duty as drummer for We Are The Fallen). These 4 not only have influnced and shaped the current generation of hardcore / metal bands, they have re-conveined to show they can still lay it down with the ferocity, technicality and songwriting that put them ahead of the rest in their younger days (Hey, Bruce and I aren't that far apart in age, so I say that with all love and understanding.). It's a compliment! I've had the privilege of talking with members of Oh Sleeper, War of Ages and others and they've said the same... they put newer bands to shame with what they lay down and how they bring it both on this record and live!

The feel: I told Bruce recently when I had an opportunity to chat with him - and I tell you the same thing - the feel of this album is amazing! When I gave it a first spin, I got the same feeling I did with Pantera's "Vulgar Dispaly of Power". Seriously. I'm not saying they are totally equitible, but it's that feel... the strength, the focus and the knowledge you are listening to something truly special.

Don't peg Living Sacrifice or this album as "a new one from the old guys", crank it up and see for yourself. The Infinite Order will indeed melt your face off with the energy, ferocity and heartfelt faith of any "younger" band in the Christian metal scene today (OR secular for that matter). This is a disc that will make you start a mosh right where you are - listen with care! ;)

Top Tracks: "Overkill Exposure", "Rules of Engagement", "God Is My Home", "Apostacy"

Living Sacrifice is on thos metal bands I will always love. One of the first metals I begin listening to for the Christian metal genre. This awesome album is one their best albums in their catalog. Recommended for metal fans like Machine Head, Sepultura etc.

I've enjoyed Living Sacrifice since their Reborn days, and I've enjoyed their progression to a tigher more precise sound. This CD was a welcome return from the metalcore pioneers, and though it's not my favorite release of theirs and not really groundbreaking in any way it's still awesome to hear them back in action. They stay consistent with their Conceived in Fire sound, and the CD is enjoyable from start to finish.

Well, the long-awaited LS album is finally here. The dreams of many metal fans came true and the Little Rock band has released the product of their more mature life and music experience. But did my personal dream become true? Unfortunately not fully.

You see, I grew up on their debut album, which I consider to be the absolute masterpiece on Christian metal stage. I have been listening THAT album for 16 years already and I am not bored of it (I guess Metallica fans can easily understand what I am talking about if I mention the Black Album). With their every new album I expect this miracle to occur again - dream to hear those LOVELY, FAST and CREATIVE melodies that catch you mind and leave an impression, that you simply CANNOT CREATE anything like that! You know, it takes to be Metallica to create Enter Sandman or One, it takes to be Guns n'Roses to create November Rain, Sweet Child of Mine or Cry. Well it took Living Sacrifice to create Violence, Phargx Imas or The Prodigal.

As for Infinite Order, it is good, well written, complicated and solid. Absolutely it is the best among last 4 albums others are Conceived in Fire, the Hammering Process and Reborn) and if you love those previous works, you will definitely adore the Infinite Order. These boys are that good wine that does not become vinegar with time, but growing older becomes more sophisticated and noble grape drink.

However if you are over 28 and now search for the best music (you know, when you cannot listen to anything that is in metal industry anymore), you will probably love this album, you will listen to it 3 or 4 times, you will keep it in your music library and download it on your mp3 player from time to time, but I doubt you will remember a single melody out of it.

My PERSONAL verdict: it is solid 4-star album, very competitive to the market, it is "Action Standard" album every metal fan should have (if you are a Christian - make sure you have purchased you copy and not just burnt your friend's disk or downloaded some torrent). If you are young now - this is likely to catch your absolute attention for couple of month for sure. For now it is not Master of Puppets or Black Album... but we are waiting for the next one!

Blessings from Ukraine!

Compared with Reborn, this album lacks creativity and dynamics. Don't get me wrong, It's a solid album. I think most of the tracks are pretty good. However, the chorus of The Reckoning sounds a bit too much like that whiney emo metal crap to me. Although the vocal style in that song doesn't sound that way, it's too familiar. The beginning of Love Forgives sounds like a straight up Megadeth riff. I guess I was just expecting something more innovative. I haven't really been too interested in their stuff after Truby left the band. I'm guessing if you liked their work after Reborn, you would really dig this album. There are some pretty cool moments on this one. The drums are always amazing.