Sacred Reich
Encyclopedia
Sacred Reich is a Phoenix, Arizona
-based thrash metal
band that formed in 1985. Singer/songwriter Phil Rind's interest was in socially conscious and political speed metal
. After several records on Metal Blade Records
, they signed to Hollywood Records
for a short stint, but later returned to Metal Blade to continue their musical career. The band split in 2000.
Former drummer Dave McClain went on to join Machine Head
in 1995. Lead guitarist Wiley Arnett went on to form The Human Condition with St. Madness vocalist Prophet in July 2000.
In 2007, the band reunited to play several shows in Europe
, including Wacken Open Air
. However, according to an interview with bassist/vocalist Phil Rind, there are no plans to record a new Sacred Reich album.
The band also contributed the Black Sabbath
cover "Sweet Leaf
" to the Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML
compilation album to benefit NORML, and the Subhumans
cover "The Big Picture" appears as the B-side of the "Open Book" promotional single. A three disk boxed set with remastered versions of Ignorance
and Surf Nicaragua
with additional bonus material, including the "Draining You of Life" demo tape and a live DVD, was originally slated for release in September 2005, but was released in Europe only in the summer of 2007 by Metal Blade Records.
A clip of the band's video for the song "The American Way" is used in the movie Encino Man
. The title track from the album Independent can be heard in the college football movie The Program
.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
-based thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band that formed in 1985. Singer/songwriter Phil Rind's interest was in socially conscious and political speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
. After several records on Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, they signed to Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
for a short stint, but later returned to Metal Blade to continue their musical career. The band split in 2000.
Former drummer Dave McClain went on to join Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
in 1995. Lead guitarist Wiley Arnett went on to form The Human Condition with St. Madness vocalist Prophet in July 2000.
In 2007, the band reunited to play several shows in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
. However, according to an interview with bassist/vocalist Phil Rind, there are no plans to record a new Sacred Reich album.
Current members
- Phil Rind — vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1985–2000, 2006-) - Wiley Arnett — lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1986–2000, 2006-) - Jason Rainey — rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(1985–2000, 2007-) - Greg Hall — drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1985–1991, 1996–2000, 2007-)
Former members
- Dan Kelly — vocals (1985–1986)
- Jeff Martinek — guitar (1985–1986)
- Dave McClain — drums (1991–1995)
Discography
| Album | Year of release | Label | Type of the album | Genre |
| Draining You of Life | 1985 | Self-released | Self-released demo | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Ignorance Ignorance (album) Ignorance is the debut album from Sacred Reich, a thrash metal band originating from Arizona, United States. It was released in 1987 on Metal Blade Records, and was followed up by the 1988 EP, Surf Nicaragua... |
1987 | Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
Studio album | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Surf Nicaragua Surf Nicaragua Surf Nicaragua is an EP from Arizona thrash metal band, Sacred Reich. It was released in October, 1988 on Metal Blade Records and follows the band's debut album, Ignorance, released the previous year.... |
1988 | Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
EP - CD version has two live bonus tracks | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Alive at the Dynamo Alive at the Dynamo Alive at the Dynamo is an EP from Sacred Reich, a thrash metal band from Arizona, United States. It was recorded at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in Eindhoven, Holland, in May 1989, and released on Metal Blade Records and Roadracer Records.... |
1989 | Roadracer | Live EP | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| The American Way The American Way (album) The American Way is the second full-length album from Sacred Reich, a thrash metal band from Arizona, United States. It was released in 1990 and follows Alive at the Dynamo, a live EP recorded and released in 1989.... |
1990 | Enigma Records Enigma Records Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company... |
Studio album | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Independent | 1993 | Hollywood Records Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote... |
Studio album - Japanese Version includes Fear Fear (band) Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk, the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981... cover "Let's Start a War" as a bonus track |
Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Heal Heal (album) Heal is the fourth and final full-length studio album from Arizona thrash metal band, Sacred Reich. It was released in February, 1996 on Metal Blade Records and follows 1993's Independent... |
1996 | Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
Studio album - Japanese Version includes Fear Fear (band) Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk, the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981... cover "Beef Bologna" as a bonus track |
Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
| Still Ignorant Still Ignorant Still Ignorant is a live album, and the final recording from Arizona thrash metal band, Sacred Reich. It was released in November, 1997 on Metal Blade Records and follows the band's final studio album, Heal, the previous year. It sees the return of original drummer, Greg Hall, after an absence of... |
1997 | Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
Live album (1987–1997) | Thrash metal Thrash metal Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work... |
Singles
- "War PigsWar Pigs"War Pigs" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1970 album Paranoid. It is generally believed that the band wrote the song as a protest against the Vietnam War; however, when Sabbath played "War Pigs" in the mid-'70s, they projected scenes from World War II.As explained in...
" (1988) (Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover) - "One Nation" (1988)
- "The American Way" (1990)
- "Crawling" (1993)
- "Sweet LeafSweet Leaf"Sweet Leaf" is a song by Black Sabbath from their 1971 album Master of Reality. The song, a hymn to recreational cannabis use, got its title from a packet of cigarettes bassist Geezer Butler bought in Dublin that claimed the tobacco was "the sweet leaf." The song begins with a tape loop of...
" (1995) (Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover)
The band also contributed the Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover "Sweet Leaf
Sweet Leaf
"Sweet Leaf" is a song by Black Sabbath from their 1971 album Master of Reality. The song, a hymn to recreational cannabis use, got its title from a packet of cigarettes bassist Geezer Butler bought in Dublin that claimed the tobacco was "the sweet leaf." The song begins with a tape loop of...
" to the Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML
Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML
Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML is the first CD compilation album to benefit the organization NORML, released in November 1995. The songs that appear on the album all have marijuana as the subject matter. As of the end of 1998 "Hempilation" sold more than 110,000 units, and raised more than $90,000...
compilation album to benefit NORML, and the Subhumans
Subhumans (Canadian band)
The Subhumans are a punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that formed in 1978.Known by pejorative, punk rock nicknames, original members were known simply as "Useless" , "Dimwit" , "Wimpy" and "Normal" .-History:Dimwit quit the band shortly after their first 7" was released to join...
cover "The Big Picture" appears as the B-side of the "Open Book" promotional single. A three disk boxed set with remastered versions of Ignorance
Ignorance (album)
Ignorance is the debut album from Sacred Reich, a thrash metal band originating from Arizona, United States. It was released in 1987 on Metal Blade Records, and was followed up by the 1988 EP, Surf Nicaragua...
and Surf Nicaragua
Surf Nicaragua
Surf Nicaragua is an EP from Arizona thrash metal band, Sacred Reich. It was released in October, 1988 on Metal Blade Records and follows the band's debut album, Ignorance, released the previous year....
with additional bonus material, including the "Draining You of Life" demo tape and a live DVD, was originally slated for release in September 2005, but was released in Europe only in the summer of 2007 by Metal Blade Records.
A clip of the band's video for the song "The American Way" is used in the movie Encino Man
Encino Man
Encino Man, released in Europe as California Man, is a 1992 comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Brendan Fraser, Sean Astin and Pauly Shore. The plot revolves around two geeky teenagers from Encino, Los Angeles, California played by Astin and Shore, who discover a caveman in their...
. The title track from the album Independent can be heard in the college football movie The Program
The Program
The Program is a 1993 film starring James Caan, Halle Berry, Omar Epps, Craig Sheffer, Kristy Swanson, Daniel Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams. The film was directed by David S...
.