SACRED REICH — Heal (review)

SACRED REICH — Heal album cover Album · 1996 · Groove Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Heal" is the 4th full-length studio album by US, Arizona based thrash metal act Sacred Reich. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in February 1996. It´s the successor to "Independent" from 1993 and features the same four-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor. Drummer Dave McClain would leave the band in 1997 to join Machine Head, and although Sacred Reich remained active for a couple of years with a returning Greg Hall on the drums, they went into a hiatus from 2000-2006 and it wasn´t until 2019 that they would release a new studio album again.

"Independent (1993)" was quite the big change in sound from "The American Way (1990)", but there haven´t been a similar drastic change in sound between "Independent (1993)" and "Heal", as the latter pretty much continues the groove/heavy metal sound of the former. The songwriting has taken a dip in quality though, and there aren´t that many memorable tracks featured on the album. The fast-paced album opener "Blue Suit, Brown Shirt" is for example a completely forgettable track. To my ears the title track is one of the few tracks on "Heal" which reaches the quality of the songwriting on "Independent (1993)" (which was also a bit uneven in quality). "Heal" features a fairly well sounding production, which suits the material well.

Sacred Reich are as always a well playing act, and lead vocalist/bassist Phil Rind has a unique voice and vocal style (the Jeff Bridges of heavy metal). That fortunately saves a lot for Sacred Reich, because upon conclusion "Heal" isn´t the most interesting release by the band. They occasionally shine and they definitely have an easily recognisable sound (which is always a plus), but I can´t justify more than a 3 star (60%) rating.
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