Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1989–2003 |
Living Sacrifice was a Christian death/thrash metal band that formed in 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. They later switched their style to metalcore and are considered one of the most influential bands in the Christian metal scene.
Biography
Living Sacrifice was one of the first Christian death metal bands. They formed in 1989 by D.J. (bass/vocals), Bruce Fitzhugh (guitar) and Lance Garvin (drums). Later on, Jason Truby joined in on guitar.
In 1991, Living Sacrifice's self-titled debut was released on R.E.X. Records. The album received much comparison to thrash groups of the time, especially Slayer. In 1992, Living Sacrifice released their second album, Nonexistent. In this album LS switched from thrash metal to down-tuned death metal, and D.J. started experimenting with a different type of vocal approach.
In 1994 the band released a third album, Inhabit, which is considered the heaviest of all LS albums (Nonexistent has also been considered the heaviest). On Inhabit D.J. returned to a more thrashy approach. After this recording R.E.X. went bankrupt, and Living Sacrifice signed onto Solid State Records.
After this D.J. left the band and Bruce took over vocals. Jason's brother, Chris, also joined on bass. With this new lineup, LS recorded Reborn, their Solid State debut, in 1997. This is considered by many to be their best album. They took a turn to a more metalcore approach but still had thrash/death metal influence. After this record Chris and Jason left the band and Jay Stacy filled in on bass, but was later replaced by Arthur Green, formerly of Eso-charis. Cory Putman (Eso-charis, Norma Jean) played guitar for a tour through Norway and Sweden but was then replaced by Rocky Gray (who would go on to play drums in Evanescence and guitar in Soul Embraced.)
At the end of 1999 Matt Putman joined LS as a percussionist. This gave LS a new sound, combined with the writing style of Rocky Gray. In 2000, LS recorded their 5th full length album, The Hammering Process. This record was given a more tribal feel thanks to Matt and was solid metalcore; most of the thrash/death influences were gone now.
In 2001, "A Tribute to Living Sacrifice" was released. The album contains covers of many Living Sacrifice songs by other metal bands and former members, and a Living Sacrifice song from a split album called "Metamorphosis" released in 1993.
2002 saw Living Sacrifice entering the studio again and recording Conceived In Fire, which would be their last album. This was a return to the metalcore/death/thrash style of Reborn, and was received happily by fans. Unfortunately, in 2003, LS cancelled the rest of one of their tours and announced that LS would not be recording any more albums. Each of the band members had other duties that had to be committed to and the bandmembers felt it was time to move on. Bruce is now a band manager and producer (producing such acts as Few Left Standing & The Showdown), Rocky plays drums in Evanescence, Matt plays in Lovedrug, Snailhuntr, and Unwed Sailor, Arthur is managing small businesses, Jason is in P.O.D., Cory Putman is in Norma Jean, and Lance is recording music with friends. D.J. is currently residing in Arkansas where he is doing ministry work.
In March of 2005, less than two years after Living Sacrifice performed their last show, "In Memoriam" was released by Solid State Records. It is a "best of" album, containing 3 "newly written and recorded songs by Lance Garvin, Rocky Gray and Bruce Fitzhugh", two songs from each Living Sacrifice album, plus "Enthroned," a latter cover of a song originally released on 1992's "Nonexistent."
Discography
Studio releases
- Living Sacrifice - (1991)
- Nonexistent - (1992)
- Inhabit - (1994)
- Reborn - (1997)
- The Hammering Process - (2000)
- Conceived In Fire - (2002)
- In Memoriam - (2005)
Band members
- Bruce Fitzhugh - Vocals, guitar (1989-2003 & 2005)
- Rocky Gray - Guitar (1999-2003 & 2005) (also in Evanescence, Soul Embraced, The Burning, Mourningside and Machina)
- Arthur Green - Bass (1999-2003) (in Eso-Charis)
- Matt Putman - Percussion (1999-2003) (in Eso-Charis, Lovedrug, Unwed Sailor)
- Lance Garvin - Drums (1989-2003 & 2005) (also in Soul Embraced)
- D.J. - Vocals, Bass (1989-1995)
- Jason Truby - Guitar (1989-1998) (in P.O.D.)
- Cory Brandan Putman - Vocals, Guitar (Various times, mostly 1998 & 2003) (in Eso-Charis and Norma Jean)
- Chris Truby - Bass (1995-1998)
- Jay Stacy - Bass (1998-1999)