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๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ โ€” ๐—”๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜†๐—ฝ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ (1993)

๐…๐‘๐Ž๐Œ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐‚๐‘๐˜๐๐“๐’ - ๐‚๐„๐‹๐„๐๐‘๐€๐“๐ˆ๐๐† ๐๐€๐’๐“ ๐€๐‹๐๐”๐Œ ๐‘๐„๐‹๐„๐€๐’๐„๐’ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‡๐ˆ๐’๐“๐Ž๐‘๐˜ ๐จ๐Ÿย  ๐‡๐€๐‘๐ƒ ๐‘๐Ž๐‚๐Š & ๐‡๐„๐€๐•๐˜ ๐Œ๐„๐“๐€๐‹โ€ฆ



On this day (June 15) in 1993, Sacrifice released their fourth full-length studio album โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ via Metal Blade Records.



In 1993 Sacrifice went back to Phase One Studios to record the album โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ which was released on June 15, 1993 on Metal Blade records. It was co-produced by Dave Carlo (guitarist of Razor). During that summer bassist Scott Watts parted ways with the band and was replaced by Kevin Wimberley. After a tour of the United States in the same year in which the band supported Death, Sacrifice called it quits until 2006, when the band reunited and performed in Toronto at the 'Day of the Equinox II' festival.



Overview:

By the time Sacrifice released their 1993 album โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€, Grunge had taken over the airwaves, thanks in large part to MTV, who ushered in the new movement by continuously airing Nirvanaโ€™s (then) new video for โ€œSmells Like Teen Spiritโ€โ€™ along with Indie acts of the time like R.E.M. It was later rumored that (then) programming director Doug Herzog hated Metal music (especially Glam Metal), and had vowed that MTV would no longer air videos of that sort. And, just like that, casual Metal fans (or posers) traded in their leather, spikes, and high/top sneakers for flannel shirts and combat boots. Shredding guitar soloโ€™s had been deemed clicheโ€™, and almost overnight all forms of Metal had been all but silenced (or so they thought). Even Thrash Metal titans of the time were slowing their music down, trading rapid-fire riffs for a more straightforward Rock aesthetic.



And so, as the Book of Heavy Metal had been (temporarily) slammed shut, and the mere mention of our beloved art form being almost taboo, โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ never got itโ€™s proper dues. Itโ€™s quite sad really, as Sacrifice deliver the goods with โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€. I have read reviews and heard others say that the album is weak or thin sounding, but I think those people heard a different album. Yes, the songs are more mid-tempo and less โ€œin your faceโ€, so to speak. Yet, the songs are impressive and the lyrics are compelling. The subject matter deals with the psychological issues, and inner turmoil that many humans struggle with every day. Which makes the songs relatable and easy to latch onto. The songs are well composed and highly focused, with the music perfectly articulating the expressed emotions within the words. Every Thrashing guitar riff by Rico & Urbinati is executed with technical precision, while the leads and soloโ€™s are expressive and dynamic. And thatโ€™s what this album was, very dynamic. The tempo varies throughout the album and within the context of each song, so there is no chance of the music ever stagnating or killing you with boredom. A great example of this would be for you to listen to the albums title track, โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ and โ€œRuins of Oldโ€. Thatโ€™s if you havenโ€™t already listened to the album.



In conclusion; donโ€™t listen to any of the reviews of โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ and give it chance. I have a feeling you wonโ€™t regret it. As I am a fan of the Sacrifice album โ€œSoldiers of Misfortuneโ€, I would put it right on par with that album. โ€” E.N. Wells



Critical Reception:

In his review for AllMusic, Steve Huey, writes;

โ€œInspired by the Thrashy intensity of bands like Metallica and Slayer, Sacrifice became an early, if unheralded, part of the developing Death Metal scene in the mid-'80s. But their sound stayed largely the same over the years, and 1993's โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€, while generally acknowledged as their best album, also sounds very old-school in comparison to modern Death Metal, more sensibility than sound. It's fast, furious, and aggressive, to be sure, but recognizably rooted in the '80s in its arrangements, instrumental work, and production. There are touches of MERCYFUL FATE-esque Gothic Metal, while at other times the group resembles a second-tier Speed Metal act, like Exodus or Metal Church. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course, especially since โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ is very well executed. The songs are progressive and the riffs memorable, the musicianship is technically accomplished (thanks in part to new drummer Michael Rosenthal, who brings a jazz-rock sensibility to some passages), and the production is clear and nicely balanced. Unfortunately, Sacrifice was never able to build on โ€œApocalypse Inside'sโ€ achievements, and disbanded for the second time following its release.โ€

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to โ€œApocalypse Insideโ€ via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/apocalypse-inside/74428973


Click this link to follow Sacrifice on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sacrificecanada


Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. โ€” E.N. Wells



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