Sacrifice - Soldiers Of Misfortune (1991)

Very cool, well produced thrash courtesy of Fringe Records, not sure how well this one sold back in the day, but if you've never heard of it then you need to get yourself a copy. This one of those rare gems that deserved recognition. I've played this quite a few times, endeared to the thrashing rage by the vocal rasp of Rob Urbinati who also plays guitar alongside fellow axeman Joe Rico. This is exceptional at times, the band sharing labels with Razor, but for me these guys probably edge it, mainly because of their ability to slow things down and provide some startling melodic moments, particularly the brilliant title track where Urbinati comes alive with those nasty sneers. 'Soldiers Of Misfortune' boasts so many ominous atmospheres, the brooding 'A Storm In The Silence' is one of the best thrash tracks I heard at the time, bettering anything done by a majority of the Bay Area acts. 'As The World Burns' another slab of nefarious, toxic thrash, Gus Pynn's drums ruling the roost. Hard to believe this is the band's third album, so what are you waiting for ? 8/10