I’ve always had a soft spot for the Bay Area version of metal. Thrash is aggressive, often dark and sinister, but something about the punk and hardcore edge really resonates with me. It’s the only branch of metal that can capture the menacing force of Slayer while still keeping it fun like early Exodus. Even as I’ve grown older and dipped into other sub-genres, thrash still feels distinctly American to me whereas black metal has a more exotic vibe. So how do we classify about Canadian metal? That thought stuck with me upon my first listen to Volume Six, the latest album from Sacrifice.
Formed in 1983 in the suburbs of Toronto, Sacrifice played a pivotal role in Canada’s underground metal scene. Alongside contemporaries like Razor, Annihilator, and Voivod, Sacrifice gravitated toward the darker side of thrash. That often led to them being unfairly labeled as “Canadian Slayer.” Despite their influence on bands like Carcass and Cannibal Corpse, Sacrifice has never received the recognition they deserve in the United States.
After two long hiatuses, Sacrifice is back with Volume Six—their first new album in 16 years.
Right from the start, it’s a full-throttle display of thrash metal excellence. The guitars and bass are sharp, packing a clean, scooped-mid punch. The drums are wild and chaotic, and the vocals sound like they’re coming straight from some forgotten catacomb. Sacrifice nails everything fans love about their previous work and thrash in general, all within the first track. The remaining 10 tracks (which include two instrumentals and a Direct Action cover) keep the momentum going, delivering exactly what you’d hope for from an album like this.
So why isn’t Sacrifice mentioned in the same breath as Bay Area thrash icons?
They’ve been around as long as those legacy acts, influenced countless bands, and remained active through all these years. Yet, they still fly under the radar. For me, it came down to simple laziness, maybe even a touch of unintentional bias. While progressive metal from Germany and black metal from Finland feel foreign and mystic, Canada just didn’t feel all that different from the U.S. So, in my limited view, I stuck to the American bands. That narrow perspective kept me from discovering not only Sacrifice, but high-quality metal in general—and that’s a humbling realization.
Answering that question also means reckoning wtih the evolution of bands like Slayer and Metallica. When they released their defining records, they eventually hit a creative ceiling. Such bands made the choice to keep up with the younger, hungrier bands, which led to backlash from fans who wanted them to keep making the same music. Sacrifice, on the other hand, decided to evolve around the edges while maintaining their core sound. They’ve always stayed true to themselves, and Volume Six reflects this perfectly.
While the album doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, it still offers room for growth and fresh ideas. Beyond the familiar galloping riffs and tremolo-picked runs, the songs give each member of Sacrifice time to shine individually. They mix in interesting transitions, tempo changes, and curious production techniques. For example, the opening of “Underneath Millennia” features a fantastic distorted bass underpinned by a tribal drum pattern. It’s a cool moment that feels like something new for them. Even the guitar solos stand out. We get none of the standard squeals or Kerry King-style tropes, just purposeful playing that shows the band’s maturity after such a long break.
In the end, Volume Six is a killer thrash record. Not only does it highlight what Sacrifice does best, but it also made me rethink my American-thrash-only perspective. Sure, they have similarities to Slayer in terms of structure and sound, but that’s not plagiarism—it’s two bands coming from the same musical roots. Understanding this only makes Volume Six even better. It’s not every day you get to listen to a legacy act with fresh ears. Doing just that has turned me into a Sacrifice fan, while also opening my eyes to the impressive Canadian thrash scene.
Volume Six is currently available on cassette, vinyl, and CD at Cursed Blessings Records and streaming on Bandcamp