Reborn
Rebornis indeed a rebirth for the band and their debut for Tooth & Nail Records. Gone are the death-metal and grind-core references that made the band a joke to fans of other musical genres. In its place are nods to the modern metal and hardcore sounds that are exploding from the underground. The change is not imitative, but a natural extension of Living Sacrifice's previous image, reflected through personnel and industry changes. Famed Little Rock producer Barry Poynter's work on the record outshines the efforts of more popular producers from larger cities. He helps expand Sac's sonics from a heavy, metal midrange to a beefy, crisp, thunderous roar. Monster riffs, huge rock hooks, tricky tape loops, and classical-guitar interludes provide the details that, along with the band's improved songwriting and streamlined performance approach, puts them in a new category: metal that matters.--Brad Caviness