Living Sacrifice

History

Living Sacrifice was among the first Christian death metal bands, alongside Sacrament and Mortification. The band formed in 1989 with Darren Johnson on bass and vocals, Bruce Fitzhugh on guitar, and Lance Garvin on drums; Jason Truby later joined on guitar. Their debut show took place on December 1, 1989, before an audience of nurses. A three-song demo, Not Yielding to Ungodly, was released in 1990 and reached Kurt Bachman and Joey Daub of Believer, who signed the band to R.E.X. Records.

The self-titled debut album came out in 1991, recorded at Catamount Recording Studio in Iowa with Bachman producing, and drew comparisons to thrash metal groups such as Slayer. The second album, Nonexistent, was released on November 17, 1992, and marked a shift to down-tuned death metal with Johnson using death growls. The band expressed disappointment with the recording experience, blaming the producer's lack of metal experience; they had wanted to work with Scott Burns of Morrisound Recording, but the label required the album before the 1992 Cornerstone Festival.

Johnson and Garvin handled some engineering themselves. The third album, Inhabit, released in 1994, is considered by some the band's heaviest, with Johnson returning to a deeper thrash-oriented vocal style. A tour with Malevolent Creation followed. After R.E.X. went bankrupt, Living Sacrifice signed with Solid State Records to reach a broader audience.

Did You Know?

• Bands that have named Living Sacrifice an influence include As I Lay Dying, Throwdown, Demon Hunter, Underøath, Haste the Day, Saving Grace, and 7 Horns 7 Eyes.
• The band's name is derived from a biblical concept.
• Their debut show was performed in front of a hall of nurses.