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Ashes To Ashes

      
         
         
         
     
             
Sacrilege are a heavy metal band from the UK, formed in 1982 during the NWOBHM movement. The band released a couple of demo's in 1983 before disbanding the following year. Founding member Bill Beadle resurrected the band in 2007 and recorded a lot of songs which have been released across four albums. As a taster for their new album, the compilation 'Ashes To Ashes' was released in 2015.    
             
'Ashes To Ashes' spans the career of Sacrilege, with songs taken from their 1983 demo and their three full length albums, released between 2011 and 2013. This compilation is not in chronological order, it jumps between the new and the old. There are six songs from the demo, the first, 'Rock 'N' Roll With The Devil' is a bombastic blast of NWOBHM. The new era was just developing at the time and 'Rock 'N' Roll With The Devil' is true British heavy metal, standing shoulder to shoulder with bands such as NWOBHM pioneers Judas Priest and Saxon. Thundering like a tornado 'Condemned' is bold, arrogant and in your face. Should anyone question what heavy metal sounded like back in the early eighties, 'Condemned' is their answer.    
             
'The Ruler' is a mid tempo, loud and proud, guitar driven romp, with 'Rulers And Destructors' up tempo and aggressive. Clean and clear vocals, chugging guitars and a galloping rhythm is NWOBHM in a nutshell and Sacrilege displayed it in abundance. 'Ashes To Ashes' is an epic, seven minutes plus, majestic wander through some phenomenal guitar work and tempo changes. British stalwarts Iron Maiden became masters of the six, seven, sometimes eight minute long epics, yet here is one that precedes them. The sixth song taken from the demo is the chilling 'Gates Of Hell' with a menacing, atmospheric intro and a doom metal style that Black Sabbath brought into the NWOBHM movement. Had Sacrilege remained together, I believe they would have become a major force in heavy metal music alongside legends Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon, who spearheaded the NWOBHM evolution.    
             
The band reformed in 2007 and in 2011, 'The Unknown Soldier' album was released and two songs off that album feature here. The first song, 'The Unknown Soldier' still has the same chugging guitar rhythm and (obviously) the same vocal sound. It is a burst of traditional British heavy metal, and is a bold "remember us" statement. Foot tapping, head banging and punching the air in delight is the reaction to 'The Unknown Soldier' and is also a requirement for the second song 'Evolution'. Thunderous mid tempo, cracking vocals with a hint of aggression, 'Evolution' will bring a smile to the face of heavy metal fans everywhere.    
             
'The Wrath' album from 2012 brings 'Feeding On The Humans' and 'The Fightback' to the ears of eager listeners. 'Feeding On The Humans' is a majestic stomp, similar in style to some of the great Judas Priest songs of the past. 'The Fightback' is very heavy with a near doom metal style, and an infectious rhythm that will have you tapping your feet hard and nodding your head in unison. Sacrilege are proving that they are back, mean business and worth their place in today's heavy metal scene.    
             
Four songs make an appearance from 'Sacrosanct', the album released in 2013. 'The Traveller' is a bombastic, energetic song that is raucous and addictive. With memorable hooks and riffs, this again is true British heavy metal. 'The Dawn It Dies' opens in a sinisterly atmospheric fashion, building intensity and the expectation of a sudden, thunderous change...and fans will not be disappointed. With an up tempo rampage, guitars buzzing and a thunderous rhythm, 'The Dawn It Dies' is superb. 'Ascension' is a swashbuckling stride of guitars and galloping rhythms with 'Help' one of the most catchy and infectious songs Sacrilege have ever released. Taking a nod back to the early days, it is heavy rock off the top shelf with a blistering guitar solo.    
             
Overall, a sparkling reminder of how great a band Sacrilege are. With songs from the early days and the recent years, this is an album for the NWOBHM enthusiast.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Sacrilege    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
six6six      
           
"a fusion of very heavy hard rock and doom metal to let everyone know that Sacrilege and the sound of true British NWOBHM is still alive" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
The Court Of The Insane      
           
"a heavy hitting, mid tempo, moody stomp of classic NWOBHM from stalwarts of the British heavy metal scene" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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