Sacrifice – Tears (Reissue)
Release Date: 19th December 2025
Label: Relics from the Crypt (sub-label of Dying Victims Productions)
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash, Crossover Thrash.
FFO: Cro-Mags, Carnivore, The Exploited.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
On December 19th, Relics from the Crypt, the sub-label of Dying Victims Productions, re-issues Tears, the cult classic album from Japan’s thrash metal pioneers, Sacrifice. Originally released in 1992, Tears has long been due for a re-issue, and that being the case, I won’t go into too much detail covering old ground. However, for those who are unfamiliar with the band, as I was until not long ago, give me a few minutes to sell you on this band, and this album, in particular.
Sacrifice was originally formed in Tokyo in 1985, with Akira Sugiuchi on vocals, Hiroyuki Murakami on guitar, Tohru Nishida on bass, and Kenji Suzuki on drums. They released their first iconic album, Crest of Black, in 1987, which has been praised for its dirty, evil sound, prompting comparisons to Venom. This was followed by Total Steel in 1990, which saw the band lean into more crossover influences like Carnivore.
Sacrifice was on an upward swing when all of the stars aligned on Tears. The long intros of the previous albums are used in moderation and with more intention, and the band seems to have found the sweet spot between their influences and their own unique sound. For my U.S. compatriots, this isn’t the kind of thrash you may be expecting. It’s raw and thrash-ish, if you will, with harsher vocals, which feel more crossover rather than straight thrash. Think more D.R.I. and Cro-Mags and less Megadeth, with European influences like The Exploited and early Celtic Frost.
Never Land Never Again kicks off the album with a slow, sludgey Cro-Mags-type of vibe that twists and turns in a 7:30 epic. They pick up an insane amount of speed on Breaking The Silence Of The Night, which rips the roof off the place like a tornado that is equal parts Motörhead groove and Carnivore attitude. Suzuki’s drumming in this track is relentless. It’s probably my favorite if I had to choose. In Your Soul, you can hear some of the darker, grittier, old-school Celtic Frost influences in Murakami’s leads, and the longer intro on Broken Heroes adds a touch of atmosphere and sets the stage for the narrative themes about the personal sacrifices required to be successful in the music business.
Time Slips Through In Front Of Your Eyes is another highlight of the album. The evil riffs in the intro start the track off at a relatively quick tempo, but listeners are soon thrust into the maelstrom at a blistering pace similar to early U.S. thrash, seen in the Metallica classic, Fight Fire With Fire. Do I Fight For God has those beautiful, crunchy riffs of early thrash, with the killer groove of classic metal. The gang vocals also add a nice touch to the chorus. Hardest Life also speaks to more of a heavy metal style, with a sort of early Mötley Crüe feel, complete with a fiery lead solo and an unexpected bass highlight from Nishida. Down To You is slightly less manic, with a song structure familiar to classic heavy metal. The variation in Sugiuchi’s vocal stylings adds interest, and there’s an excellent solo that’s not to be missed.
The drumming on Tears is particularly insane, and the guitarwork is tight, with several killer solos. The songwriting and compositions are fairly straightforward, but they are dynamic and focused. Even though all of the songs range from about 4 minutes to 7:30, the band has a knack for keeping things moving and interesting. As mentioned earlier, the vocals are on the harsher end, and they’re sort of growly, but they’re a perfect fit. The production is also very good. I appreciate that I can actually hear all of the instruments, and they are balanced well with the vocals.
Unfortunately, Sacrifice broke up after the release of Tears. Although they briefly reunited in 2020, sadly, no new music has been forthcoming. It’s criminal that more people aren’t aware of Sacrifice outside of Japan, but hopefully this reissue will help to change that. If you’re a fan of thrash, crossover, hardcore, or punk, Tears is well worth picking up, standing as a testament to what is probably the band’s best work.
(4 / 5)
