Sacrificium - Escaping the Stupor

Band Sacrificium
Album Escaping the Stupor
Genre Death metal
Label Black Lotus Records
Year of release 2005
Line-up Claudio Enzler (vocals)
Ulrike Uhlman (guitars)
Oliver Tesch (guitars)
Mario Henning (drums, acoustic guitars)
Samuel Herbrich (bass)
Guest-musicians Karl Walfridsson (vocals)
Pilgrim (vocals)
Tracklist:

1. Canvas
2. Towards the Edge of Degeneration
3. I Am the Enemy
4. Pierced by Death
5. Extinction of Mankind
6. Shivering
7. Tremendum (instrumental)
8. As Silence Dies
9. Relativation of Justice
10. Of Traumatic Memories and Tears
11. Nothing from You

After hearing them cover the Vengeance Rising song White Throne, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this CD. And Sacrificium do not disappoint here. Mixing Melodic Death metal (comparable to Extol's Undeceived) with the more brutal Death metal (comparable to parts of Crimson Moonlight's Veil of Remembrance) they bring an awesome record that's melodic enough to give variation, and brutal enough to keep blasting. Canvas quickly starts with a riff with both screams and grunts, followed by a blast beat with a fast riff and the variation of screaming and grunting. From silence before the starting of the record you are immediately sucked into the music. And don't be mistaken, the screams and grunts are both done by Claudio, and a fine job he does. It seems as though this band has gotten better in everything; the vocals, the guitars, the drums are brilliant (fast, variation, great double bass and blast beat) and overall better songs. I can't compare the lyrics, but the lyrics here are pretty good; Sacrificium criticize today's society, the growing individualism, the growing wealth, death penalty or the lack of silence (in the song As Silence Dies, ironically one of the fastest songs). The lyrics overall remain clearly christian.
My favorit song is probably I Am the Enemy. Claudio next to the talented grunter Karl Walfridsson of Pantokrator and the well-respected screamer Pilgrim of Crimson Moonlight really makes this song stick out, especially because of Pilgrim's part. Utterly furious, totally fitting this up-tempo song.
Like some said after hearing their cover of White Throne, the melodic guitarlines sound a bit weak. That's also on this album, they seem to get a bit lost in the riffs and drums. That really is the only problem in the production though, the production is top-notch, great sound.
So overall my conclusion would be: this is a must-have for any fan of Death metal. This album will get in the list of best Death metal albums of the past years.
Review by Max (February 01 - 2006)