Inhabit (Re-Issue 2025)

The brutally cacophonous Inhabit is the final recording from Living Sacrifice to feature original vocalist/bassist D.J. and his grizzly Christian rants against those who might defy the lord. Along with fellow sheep-in-wolves-clothing acts like CA's Tourniquet, Living Sacrifice delivered some of the finest '90s underground metal with a religious message. And Inhabit -- originally released in 1994 on the R.E.X. label and reissued in 1999 by Tooth & Nail -- is as good a testimonial to the group's metal legitimacy as anything the band released. Along with D.J., Bruce Fitshugh (guitars), Jason Truby (guitars), and Lance Garvin (drums) each seem determined to grind their respective instruments to a pulp on Inhabit. Nothing is held back as the thrash-influenced riffing of earlier efforts gives way to a wall of death metal noise. Fitshugh and Truby deserve most of the credit for the sonic progress made on Inhabit, as the pair abuses their guitars, giving a menacing power chord over-ring to every song. The pinnacle of this band's first formation, Inhabit is an uncompromising effort, and perhaps Living Sacrifice's greatest success. ~ Vincent Jeffries