| Musical Style: Metal / Hard Rock | Produced By: Roger Rose |
| Record Label: Intense / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1991 / 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 41:33 |
Hard music fans who appreciate doom metal and stoner rock will find plenty to like about the Intense Records 1991 debut solo album from Randy Rose, Sacrificium. It emphasizes the slower tempos and slogging riffs, thickset low end, bulky guitars and bleak atmosphere distinct to either form. Vocally, artist plays up a lower register and gruff but soulful delivery reminiscent to that of Glenn Danzig. Hence, manner in which the project exudes a decided Danzig vibe, albeit those that also cite a Black Sabbath and Trouble influence are not without merit.
Better known as a founding member and vocalist and drummer of Mad At The World, Randy Rose helped infuse the Southern California modern/alternative acts sounds with a hard rocking edge beginning with Alarma Records releases Seasons Of Love and Boomerang from 1990 and 1991, respectively, but also 1992 Frontline Records follow up effort Through The Forest. Artist takes the heaviness to the next level on Sacrificium, bearing out the contributions of Mad At The World cohorts in guitarists Brent Gordon and brother Roger Rose play no small role in this regard.
Whereas Sacrificium went out of print and turned into a hard to find collectors item, it was re-mastered by Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound) and re-issued in the spring of 2024 by Retroactive Records on CD (300 copies) and vinyl (200). An 8-page mini booklet with lyrics in an easy to read font and special message from the artist attributes to Scott Waters (No Life Til Metal Graphics).
When listened to alongside, the Retroactive version brings a more lucid sound compared to its Intense Records counterpart found in added clarity to the low end - noting the visible bass presence - not to mention sturdier rhythm guitar and cleaner guitar leads. The Intense release might have sounded find for its time, but the Retroactive re-mastering brings the album up to current standards.
Opening cut “Pain” does a choice job embodying the artists doom meets stoner rock sound. It proves raw and rough and tumble as it gets (in a positive way), dragged its span by menacing bass as vast rhythm guitar impels in and out of the mix but eliciting of the convincing in the form of the subtly indelible hooks to hold sway. Some Bride Live To Die like intensity rises to the surface. Lyric snippet:
Crying from the lights of this world
Dying from the pain of this world
Jesus, please save me from this world
Save me from this world
Now your life has changed suddenly
Rearranged, He’s giving you a reason
To try again… try again
“Oppression” opens its first thirty seconds to eerie and offbeat sound effect ahead of morphing into a dire plodder. Verse sections emanate of the desolate as menacing mid-paced riffs command, while resonant vocal melodies uphold the inauspicious refrain. Gordon proves no small talent with his perfectly placed bluesy guitar leads. Lyric snippet:
The bluesy lacings carry over to “Fire” with its shuffling low-end propensity. Tempo is hammering as it gets, with the gravelly soul to artist vocal delivery allowing the baleful hooks to separate that much further. The straight on hard rock vestiges to diverge almost touch upon Rez Band. Lyric snippet:
My name is Satan, my name is Lucifer
My name is pain and my name is
All the power you can gain
I’ll take you high, so high you’ll
Never see that I’m a liar
Someday, I’m gonna take you to the
Fire, fire
I’ll get in your mind
I’ll take control
You give me your body
I’ll take your soul
“I Was Alive” is an interestingly diverse cut. It negotiates its span between outbursts of thrash-like ‘chugga-chugga’ riffs - of an old school Deliverance variety - and flare-ups of slower doom like instants in which unfailing rhythm guitar takes hold. Randy Rose reaches down low vocally to lend to the provoking scene. Lyric snippet:
Subsequent to four opening mid-tempo cuts, “Wicked Ways” proves a refreshing upbeat change of pace. Catchy hooks reign supreme, not to the point of commercial but indelible all the same, as does a correlative Gothic effect, found in the somber backing vocals abetting the refrain. The No Life Til Metal review is spot on when describing “Wicked Ways” as ‘instantly likeable’. Lyric snippet:
Father, Savior, Jesus
Heal me, help me, save me
You shed Your blood for me
Would someone please release me
From the ways of this world?
Satan, father of lies
Angel of light
You can’t have my life
I was bought by Christ
Albums lengthiest at five and half minutes, “Black Harvest” carries over the upbeat momentum, overseen by a melodic bass line and lively rhythm guitar pointing to the speed based but guided by the ever present low end cudgeling driving the Sacrificium material. Gordon lets loose with an extended run of fittingly uneasy lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
Back to doom territory with “Marshmallow Land”. Powerful, smiting and delivering a stony wallop, song centers around verdant guitar harmonies as acidic lead guitar reinforces the prevailing melancholy to stand apart. Interestingly, some of the vocals almost have a spoke word feel, which I find to fit perfectly the songs moody feel. Lyric snippet:
A journey in the mind of the blind
Where love doesn’t matter
Everything’s clear
It’s love that they fear
Picture yourself dancing on flames
Of eternal ignorance
Love paranoia takes you
Fakes you, and then it breaks you
“Wall Of Hate” embodies stoner doom with a traditional metal twist. Catchy rhythm guitars gives rise to a propelling Saint meets Barren Cross like feel, aligning with an equally beguiling bass lines pointing to the bludgeoning. I sense a hint of the eighties here but from a heavier standpoint as opposed to commercial.
Gruff and hearty, “Death” speaks of the portent with its smiting guitars, husky vocals and browbeating mentality. Yes, it is plodding as anything here but does not forsake the listenable, as revealed in the brawny backing vocals bracing the understatedly catchy refrain. Lyric snippet:
Just a breath away, oh, too close
Just an inch away
I don’t want to go
Just another day with death
I don’t want to live with death
Death, where’s your sting?
Death, where’s your victory?
Albums closing title track begins to the sound of a thunderstorm ahead of shambling momentum taking over, tromping and scuffing its duration as caustic guitar and scalding rhythm section set the mordant tone. Classic doom metal at its best, “Sacrificium” represents albums most creative with its flawless marrying of implacable venom with outlying hooks to draw in with repeat play. Lyric snippet:
He’s the lamb on the altar
He’s the lamb to be slaughtered
Living sacrifice for our sins
Christ has died as sacrificium
Forgiving and forgetting all you’ve done
Dying in the place of the lamb
Sins gone and the pain now
You can live again
Randy Rose debut solo album Sacrificium represents a choice example of doom metal meets stoner hard rock. Artists vocal comparison to Glenn Danzig notwithstanding, if into Danzig, Trouble and Black Sabbath (not to mention any of the bands previously referenced) I see the album appealing to your tastes. Making Sacrificium further compelling is that there is not a skip button among the lot. That said, perhaps the artist could have varied things by including a couple more upbeat cuts or at least a dark, acoustic laced ballad. Overall, the Retroactive re-issue represents a priority purchase for those into the doom metal and stoner rock categories or interested in an upgraded version to the original in terms of re-mastering and packaging.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Pain” (4:06), “Oppression” (3:45), “Fire” (4:29), “I Was Alive” (3:30), “Wicked Ways” (3:38), “Black Harvest” (5:30), “Marshmallow Land” (4:08), “Wall Of Hate” (3:52), “Death” (3:46), “Sacrificium” (4:41)
Musicians
Randy Rose - Lead Vocals, Guitars & Drums
Roger Rose - Guitars
Ray Rose - Bass
Jason Martin - Drums
Brent Gordon - Lead Guitar
Ronni Martin - Intro on “Oppresion”
