• Artist: Vengeance Rising
  
• Album: Human Sacrifice
  
• Release date: 1988
  
• Record label: Frontline/Intense Records
  
• Track listing:
  

1. "Human Sacrifice"
   
2. "Burn"
   
3. "Mulligan Stew"
   
4. "Receive Him"
   
5. "I Love Hating Evil"
   
6. "Fatal Delay"
   
7. "White Throne"
   
8. "Salvation"
   
9. "From the Dead"
   
10. "Ascension"
    
11. "He Is God"
    
12. "Fill This Place With Blood"
    
13. "Beheaded"
    

"Human Sacrifice" is the intro to this staple in Christian Metal. Especially Christian Thrash! Human Sacrifice shows every thing a Christian Thrash metal band should be nowadays. Maybe not the Vocals. Vocalist Roger Martinez has a pretty unique vocal style which unfortunately get worse every release.

"Burn" should really be titled "Burn (Satan Burn)". Bassist Roger Dale Martin let's the Bass hang out for a second before the drums kick in. It starts off with a groove, and then kicks in (literally) to a thrasher's dream. There is a sick guitar solo, like many of these tracks, in this song.

"Mulligans Stew" starts off with a really complicated fill, and then it flips to a rock-n-roll feel! It's no secret that Vengeance consisted of Deep Purple fans. At least the original lineup.

"Receive Him". 6 second song. Enough said.

"I Love Hating Evil" starts with a very lush intro. It would be beautiful if I wasn't into Metal music. Then it gets to the good stuff. Martinez really kills with his vocals. No matter how crazy they are. Or he is. (He's the one that went nuts and changed his religious beliefs all over the place: Christianity - Satanism - Atheist. #PrayforRogerMartinez) Anyhow, great song!

"Fatal Delay" is the next track. More drum fills by Drummer Glen Mancaruso turns this track into almost a Crossover thrash track. Funny story: Apparently, the whole time Mancaruso was in Vengeance, he was a temporary drummer! Anyways, he kills on the drums. And he kills the drums! He hits those things so hard, you can hear it on the record.

"White Throne" is the first song I ever heard by Vengeance Rising. It is probably my favorite track off of this album along with the title track. 'No where to run! Nowhere to hide! White Throne!, Nowhere, I say, Nowhere, at the White Throne!' This song could go up against any classic thrash metal and hold its own for days. Guitarists Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme freaking shred on their guitars!

"Salvation" is a 17-second track. I love it! 'Salvation! Salvation! Salvation! 1-2-3-4!'

"From the Dead" is a song they tried to get Martinez to just sing on rather than his chaotic shouts. Needless to say, It didn't work out. The fills and solos on this track are ridiculous!

"Ascension" is an all instrumental track. On the Frontline Rewind Podcast, the band stated it was to give Martinez a break from singing because he had to focus on his preaching. (Ironic isn't it) It's one of the longest tracks on the record (5:24).

"He Is God" is a 52-second track with an important message like all the other tracks that are seconds long.

"Fill This Place With Blood" starts with Farkas' shredding solos and Thieme's ridiculous rhythms. And then Martin's brilliant bass. And Mancaruso's thrashing terror! (Alliteration is awesome). Martinez has his freaking fantastic Vocals. And then at 2:52, the song's over.

"Beheaded" ends this fantastic album. Not with a whimper. But with a scream. The song builds up with the snare drum. The backing vocals add a great deal to this track. The trading solos doesn't hurt either. Oh, and when I said it ends with a scream, I wasn't joking.

Sounds Like: Slayer, (at times) Deep Purple

Credits:

• Roger Martinez - Vocals
  
• Larry Farkas - Guitars
  
• Doug Thieme - Guitars
  
• Roger Dale Martin - Bass
  
• Glen Mancaruso - Drums
  

Signed

The Bearded Dragon