Customer Reviews

Nonexistent

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Due to the fact that about 75% of so-called LS fans jumped on board with the hardcore-ish Reborn (their fourth album which had a big line-up change), most were dissappointed that this album was not a "paint by the numbers" Christian death metal release and they love to bash it for not sounding metalcore enough or "Christian death metal" enough. They weren't a metalcore band back then and they weren't supposed to sound like one. That means: no, they weren't trying to have the loud, crunchy guitar tone of Reborn - it's called down tuning, people - it's common in death metal; no, D.J. wasn't trying to scream or growl - he was trying to do something different - open your minds; and no, they were not trying to have the same production as Limp Bizkit's last album - they were going for a different feel. Sorry, but back then, Living Sacrifice were still metalheads.

So anyway, ignore what the bandwagon riding, rapcore loving, trendy Tooth & Nail worshipping "fans" say about this older album. Most of them listen to MxPx anyway. Nonexistant is one of the most original death albums I've ever heard by any band, regardless of their beliefs. I only wish they had been able to do more actual death metal albums before DJ left and the band turned to metalcore (not that Reborn ..... or anything, it's actually quite good). Nonexistant is very unique and something that can be appreciated by any extreme metal fan - and it would be if all these fake LS fans would stop bashing this masterpiece and spreading their lack of musical knowledge.

The music is killer, thrash-worshipping, dark and tribal death. The vocals are disgusting and impossible to decipher, since he wasn't even trying to pronounce his words (nice to hear someone in death metal that doesn't try to sound like Chris Barnes for a change). It's a total stand-out in the death scene. I wish there were more bands that stood apart as much as this one does - at least with this album.

And to those who still say, "But they're Christians!": Oh hell, you listen to Nile talk about ancient Egyptian gods and Morbid Angel talk about gods they read about in D&D or whatever. Is that somehow less stupid than listening to a guy mumble incoherently about a ... one? Just buy the record, don't read the lyrics, head bang, and make the devil sign. You won't know the difference.

"Nonexistent" is the second album from Christian Death Metal band Living Sacrifice. I'm not entirely familiar with the history of the band but I can tell you that they have made a significant impact in the Metal music world both Christian and Secular.
"Nonexistent" is an excellent album from start to finish. The band line-up featured on this album plays in a tight solid fashion showcasing superb in-your-face guitar playing and grinding rhythms. The vocals on this album are something else entirely. Lead singer/bassist D.J. shouts his vocals in a slurred almost indecipherable manner. Most of the time, it's difficult to understand what he's actually singing. Looking at the lyrics in the CD cover doesn't always help either. Even though understanding the vocals is a bit frustrating, it is not a downside to the album at all. In fact, the vocals as well as the instrumentation go hand in hand.
Besides having mostly heavy moments, this album also features moments of brief calmness such as the instrumental break in "Void Expression", the intro to "Atonement" and the middle part of "Enthroned". All of which feature acoustic guitar work that harkens back to Metallica's Black Album.
Despite the music being on the dark side, the lyrics are extremely positive, uplifting and Christ-centered. "Nonexistent" can serve as an excellent witnessing tool for an unsaved friend who likes this style of music.
Like I've said before, this album is a great piece of solid Death Metal and displays the early Living Sacrifice at their heaviest. It is highly recommended not only for Christian Metal fans but Metal fans, period. Four and a half stars!!!

The second and most hard hitting album from Living Sacrifice in my opinion. They strided away thrash elements and went full force into Death Metal, creating what is to me one of my most played disc's to date. The music is very technical and played with full speed and progression, not missing a beat. Completely creating a masterpiece, with a sound all there own. Let me first get to the vocals, probably the most talked about item of concern on this disc. Many like it, hate it, or just try to ignore it. I personally always welcomed it, I am not trying to break free from the general demographic, but I do honestly appreciate the vocal efforts from DJ. They clearly go hand and hand with the music, and although I could see a more guttural effort doing this much more good, I think the vocals are what make this such a unique and memorable album. The music contained is so brutal! the chord progression is endless, leading into some less than impressive solos, but they do the trick. When stomping your face in they give you a break with beautiful guitar instrumentals, comprised in some of the tracks. The intertwine wonderfully. The drumming is not repetitive, it rarely follows the same repetitious drum pattern that most death metal follows through with. It's technical it's brutal, it is everything and more I could ever ask for. Lyrically if you do not know Living Sacrifice is a Christian band. All of the Lyrics are very powerfully written right along with the music, giving a deep example of how to live your life in the light of Christ. If you are not a Christian, this may bother you, but you can't ever really understand what DJ is growling about even with Lyrics in hand. But to me this is very spirit filled brutality. Christian or not this release is well worth your time. By far my favorite and most recommended release from Living Sacrifice.

I love this album!This is their first death metal album and they do a good job at it.Emerge is one the best insturmentals(if thats what you call it),and every other song is just awesom,especialy track six.The lyrics are all good,but don't try to read them while listening,cause you can't understand a word the dude says,or skreaching,or whatever he is doing.Don't worry it's all good and is a little different from the "cookie-monster growls"(not hating though).So go buy this one today !

Wow I love the vocals on this album. Very heavy, very technical, and easily Living Sacrifice's best release to date. This is for fans of Obituary, Mortification, and Crimson Thorn.

Nonexistent marked the begining of Living Sacrifice's sound as true death metal. All songs are written very well and played with lightning fast skill. The guitars are extremley massive with down-tuned chugging riffs. The drumming is excellent and very, very tight. Double kicks from start to finish. The lyrics are very positive and out-front with their Christian beleifs. The vocals in this album aren't as good as they could've been. Due to a studio that was not accustomed to producing metal, some quality was lost. Over all the album is excellent.

El Kabong gives it four head bangs.

One of the things I like about this band is how they can go from one metal genre to another without any difficulty. That is something most bands who do genre changes strive for but unfortunately cannot pull-off. Another thing, you can catagorize L.S.'s fans in three groups: those who started with their thrash/death albums and who really do not like their metalcore stuff, those who started out with their metalcore cds and hate thier earlier stuff (pre-Reborn cds), the thrid group are those who started with anyone of their cds, either with a thrash/death cd or a metalcore disk, but love all their stuff. I myself belong in the third group. Anyway, as for the music on this particular album, it is totaly sick. This is all death metal here my friend. First off, the vocals are different from their first cd, s/t,(of course all the vocals are different on each of their first three cds) but are also different from the cookie-monster style that is usually found in death metal. A lot of people really don't like them but I do because their different and just sound cool. As for the rest of the cd, the music is good and there is not one bad track. Personally track six is my favorite because of the guitar solo at the end of the song. The only complaint is that music is somewhat muted, but I guess that's what happens when the recorder has never recorded any type of metal, let alone any hard music for that matter. Also,the album cover is pretty sick.Go buy this one today if you are openminded about L.S.' earlier stuff or if you just like death metal or good music.

If you are a fan of Obituary, then kick it up a notch with Living Sacrifice! This sophomore release from Arkansas' Living Sacrifice was originally released in 1992 on the CCM R.E.X. label. After R.E.X. went out of business, Nonexistent was reissued by Tooth & Nail in 1999. Featuring the same lineup that recorded the Living Sacrifice eponymous debut Nonexistent represents only a subtle progression for a group unafraid to make dramatic stylistic shifts. Heavily influenced by the Florida death metal scene, Living Sacrifice plows through ten violently heavy tracks with excruciating vocal abuse, courtesy of D.J., that is totally unmelodic but never descends to cookie-monster theatrics. I mean they're almost indecipherable!!!! While the term Christian death metal seems like one of music's most comical oxymorons, Living Sacrifice does a decent job proving that the band deserves respect on this and I think they deserve it. On their later solid state releases they became more technical, but this is the heaviest one, and in my oppinion their best.

This was one of my first death metal CDs...I got it in 92 and I still listen to it today. I listen to loads of metal...and I have never heard a band separate themselves from their peers, just by their sound...props!

LS scores 5 stars!

ok......the title is probably slightly confusing. i'll explain.......i ordered the first two Living Sacrifice's back to back so I could listen to them followed by Inhabit, Reborn, Hammering Process and Conceived in Fire.......but this one came in the mail first and I just could not resist. When it entered my CD player I was creeped out. DJ's vocals changed vastly between Nonexistent and Inhabit. On this album the vocals are hard to decipher.....you never know what he's saying unless you look in the booklet and sometimes as one reviewer already pointed out....that doesn't always help. It sounds like someone is slitting his stomach open as he sings....or something to that effect. Crazy stuff. Overall, it's not a bad album, I love the lyrics, I love the awesome riffs and music....his voice is even better!! Great album guys! I cannot wait until the self-titled arrives!