BIOGRAPHICAL DATA: Formed in late-1989, Arkansas's Living Sacrifice started as a death metal band among four young adults with an average age of 17. Writing material and playing shows, the Living Sacrifice would record a crude demo tape in 1990, and eventually landed on a promising Christian metal label, REX Records, in 1991. That year, the band's debut, self-titled full-length would be released, followed by tours in support of the effort. Living Sacrifice would then be rushed into the studio again, recording its second full-length, "Nonexistent," in 1992, and would embark on another U.S. tour. In 1994, its "Inhabit" full-length would be the band's heaviest and most technical release to date. Soon after, the band's vocalist and bassist would depart, leaving guitarist Bruce Fitzhugh and drummer Lance Garvin in need of several new role-players. Fitzhugh would continue playing guitar, and took over vocal duties. Meanwhile, the band recruited a new bassist. Soon after, Living Sacrifice would hook up with Solid State Records, an imprint label for Tooth and Nail, which was looking to create a sub-label for more-extreme and heavy acts. In 1997, Living Sacrifice would reemerge with a new album, appropriately entitled "Reborn," because of the band's new sound which steered away from death metal, and more toward a Meshuggah-ish style of metal/hardcore (offbeat riffs, rhythm changes). The band would undergo more line-up changes, and bring several members of Eso-Charis into the fold. In 2000, Living Sacrifice's latest album, "The Hammering Process," would continue to build upon the band's new sound from "Reborn," while introducing more elements, such as melody, additional percussion, and tribal beats. Living Sacrifice's previous efforts on REX Records, would eventually be re-released by Solid State. The band has toured extensively with numerous high-profile acts from the metal, hardcore, and Christian scenes. Fans of death metal would be advised to check out the band's earlier albums, while new-school hardcore/metal listeners should check out everything from "Reborn" to "The Hammering Process." Members of Living Sacrifice can also be found in the death metal unit, Soul Embraced.
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