Living Sacrifice

Infobox musical artist
Name = Living Sacrifice


Img_capt = Living Sacrifice Logo
Img_size = 150px
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Little Rock, Arkansas
Instrument =
Genre = Christian metal Death metal (early) Thrash metal Groove metal
Occupation =
Years_active = 1989 - 2005 2008 -
Label = R.E.X. Records, Solid State Records
Associated_acts = Soul Embraced, Embodyment, P.O.D., Evanescence, Eso-Charis,Norma Jean
URL = [http://www.livingsacrifice.com livingsacrifice.com]
Current_members = Bruce Fitzhugh Rocky Gray Lance Garvin Arthur Green
Past_members = Darren Johnson Jason Truby Chris Truby Cory Putman Matthew Putman

Living Sacrifice is an influential Christian metal band that formed in 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.. The band has released 6 studio albums, out of which the first 3 were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more Thrash metal and Death metal-oriented band, and beginning with "Reborn", under Solid State Records with the original guitarist Bruce Fitzhugh on vocals as more of a Thrash metal and Metalcore influenced group. When they released their 5th album, "The Hammering Process", they crossed over to being a Thrash metal/Groove metal band, similar to, but still distinct from Sepultura's "Roots" and Max Cavalera's band Soulfly. After releasing their best-of album, "In Memoriam", the group split up in 2005. They reformed in 2008 and plan to release a new record in 2009.

Biography

Early

Living Sacrifice was one of the first Christian Death metal bands. They formed in 1989 by Darren "D.J." Johnson (bass/vocals), Bruce Fitzhugh (guitar) and Lance Garvin (drums). Later on, Jason Truby (who would later join P.O.D. for the Warriors EP Vol. II and studio albums Payable On Death and Testify), joined in on guitar.

In 1989 the four original members recorded a demo entitled "Not Yielding to Ungodly" that got into the hands of Kurt Bachman and Joey Daub from Believer, who signed the band to R.E.X. records.

1990s

In 1991, Living Sacrifice's self-titled debut was released on R.E.X. Records. The album received much comparison to Thrash metal groups of the time, especially Slayer. In 1992, Living Sacrifice released their second album, "Nonexistent". In this album, Living Sacrifice switched from Thrash metal to down-tuned Death metal, and D.J. started experimenting with a death growl in his vocal approach. The members have said that they were disappointed with the experience of making this album and that the producer was to blame.

In 1994, the band released a third album, "Inhabit", which is considered by some to be the heaviest of all Living Sacrifice albums ("Nonexistent" has also been considered the heaviest).Fact|date=July 2008 On "Inhabit", D.J. returned to a more Thrash-oriented vocal approach, deeper and lower in tone than his vocals on the band's debut. After this recording R.E.X. went bankrupt, and Living Sacrifice signed onto Solid State Records seeking to widen their audience.cite journal |last=Macintosh |first=Dan |year=1997 |month=July/August |title=Living Sacrifice |journal=HM Magazine |id=ISSN|1066-6923 |issue=66 |pages= |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000918053718/www.hmmagazine.com/archives/LivingSacrifice.htm |accessdate=2007-04-30 ]

After this, D.J. left the band and Bruce took over vocals. Jason's brother, Chris, also joined on bass. With this new lineup, Living Sacrifice recorded "Reborn", their Solid State debut, in 1997. This is considered by many fans and critics to be their best album [ [http://www.epinions.com/content_433362734724 Fortunately Living Sacrifice was reborn as a better band. - Reborn by Living Sacrifice - Epinions.com ] ] . After this record, Chris and Jason left the band and Jay Stacy filled in on bass, but was later replaced by Arthur Green, formerly of Eso-Charis. Cory Brandan played guitar for a tour through Norway and Sweden but was then replaced by Rocky Gray (who would go on to play drums in Evanescence and guitar in Soul Embraced.)

At the end of 1999, Matt Putman joined Living Sacrifice as a percussionist. This gave Living Sacrifice a new sound.

2000-Present

In 2000, Living Sacrifice recorded their fifth full length album, "The Hammering Process", with a more rhythmical sound--more oriented towards Groove metal. Bruce also sang in one Evanescence song, "Lies".In 2001, "A Tribute to Living Sacrifice" was released. The album contains covers of many Living Sacrifice songs by other metal bands and former members, and a Living Sacrifice song from a split album called "Metamorphosis", released in 1993.

In 2002, Living Sacrifice entered the studio again, resulting in the album "Conceived In Fire". In 2003, Living Sacrifice cancelled the rest of one of their tours and announced that Living Sacrifice would not be recording any more albums. Each of the band members had other duties that had to be committed to and felt it was time to move on. Bruce is now a band manager and producer (producing such acts as Few Left Standing and The Showdown), Rocky plays guitar in Soul Embraced, Matt plays in Lovedrug, Snailhunter, and Unwed Sailor, Arthur plays bass in Marca and manages bands, Jason Truby played in P.O.D. from 2003 until November 2006, when he decided to leave the band to pursue musical interests with Phil Keaggy and Lance Garvin. Cory Brandan is in Norma Jean, and Lance is recording music with friends. D.J. is currently residing in Arkansas where he is doing ministry work.

In March 2005, "In Memoriam" was released by Solid State Records. It is a "best of" album, containing three "newly written and recorded songs by Lance Garvin, Rocky Gray and Bruce Fitzhugh", two songs from each Living Sacrifice album, plus "Enthroned," a 1998 cover of a song originally released on 1992's "Nonexistent". The three new songs are "In Christ", "Killers", and "The Power of God".

In 2007, Bruce Fitzhugh was featured on the song "Sixteen", on Demon Hunter's fourth album "Storm The Gates Of Hell".

On February 4, 2008, a newly created official MySpace page was updated to announce the reformation of the band. They also announced their support of Demon Hunter in the "Stronger Than Hell" tour from May 26th through July 5th, 2008.

On June 10, 2008, Living Sacrifice released a two-track online sampler which can be purchased at their Myspace page, amazonmp3, and iTunes. On the same day at the Dallas, Texas date of the "Stronger Than Hell" tour, Bruce Fitzhugh announced that the band is working on a new CD which they hope to release in 2009.

Discography

tudio releases

* "Not Yielding to Ungodly" (1989, demo)
* "Living Sacrifice" (1991, re-released 1999)
* "Nonexistent" (1992, re-released 1999)
* "Inhabit" (1994, re-released 1999)
* "Reborn" (1997, re-released 2004)
* "The Hammering Process" (2000)
* "A Tribute To Living Sacrifice" (2001)
* "Conceived In Fire" (2002)
* "In Memoriam" (2005)
* Death Machine (2009)
* Untitiled Studio Album (2009)

Band members

Current Members:
* Bruce Fitzhugh - Vocals, guitar (1989-2003, 2005, and 2008-present)
* Rocky Gray - Guitar (1999-2003, 2005, and 2008-present) (in Soul Embraced, formerly Evanescence)
* Arthur Green - Bass (1999-2003, and 2008-present) (in Eso-Charis)
* Lance Garvin - Drums (1989-2003, 2005, and 2008-present) (in Soul Embraced)

Past Members:
* Matt Putman - Percussion (1999-2003) (in Eso-Charis, Lovedrug, Unwed Sailor)
* Darren Johnson - Vocals, Bass (1989-1995)
* Jason Truby - Guitar (1989-1998) (formerly P.O.D.)
* Cory Brandan Putman - Vocals, Guitar (Various times, mostly 1998 & 2003) (was in Eso-Charis and The Handshake Murders before becoming the frontman for Norma Jean)
* Chris Truby - Bass (1995-1998)
* Jay Stacy - Bass (1998-1999)

References

Further reading

*cite journal |last= |first= |title=Living Sacrifice |month=September / October |year=1997 |issue=14 |journal=7ball Magazine

External links

* [http://www.livingsacrifice.com Official website]
* [http://www.hopeforthedead.com Hope For The Dead - Your Source For All Things Living Sacrifice]
* [http://www.solidstaterecords.com Solid State Records]