Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice (1989)

This is pretty scary thrash metal when you consider it's a Christian band, but not that it matters, because this rocks. Vocally it's almost a black metal sneer, a grotesque angst-ridden gurgle that rises above the searing solo's and speedy riffs. Think Sodom, Kreator, Slayer, all tracks delivered with fatal aplomb, particularly the frenzied 'Fatal Delay' and the brilliantly titled ' I Love Hating Evil,' which begins with a mellow passage which sounds like Ozzy Osbourne's 'You Can't Kill Rock n Roll' before drifting into a serene landscape of drums and then juggernaut Slayerized riffs. Again, a great vocal display, I can't get enough of this record, which to me sounds pretty dark despite its overall message of peace. Glorious stuff and for similar old school thrashing check out another band of merry Christians called Living Sacrifice. 7.5/10