Metal Underground.com

“Live at Wacken” marks the first release in 15 years for Arizona-based thrashers Sacred Reich. This deluxe edition contains a CD and DVD of their 2007 performance in front of the world’s biggest metal show, Wacken Open Air. Front man Phil Rind states that this performance is their first in 10 years. Rind may have become heavier around the waist, as he candidly points out to the massive crowd, but time hasn’t trimmed the band’s sound, which has remained as heavy as their first recorded note in 1985.

Speaking of 1987, Sacred Reich derived most of their set from early material: “Ignorance,” “Surf Nicaragua” and “The American Way.” “Independent” is the lone track from more recent endeavors. Old-school bangers heralded their opening and closing of title tracks “The American Way” and “Surf Nicaragua,” while younger fans—fortunate to witness this pillar of second-wave American thrash—couldn’t resist the urge to head bang during the beefy grooves of “Love…Hate” and “State of Emergency.” The fact that they received a 12-song, full set in the middle of the day said something about the group's ability to put on a stellar performance.

Sacred Reich has been absent, for the most part, from the new millennium. Because of their split, they’ve become one of those bands you’ll hear old timers say, “Remember Sacred Reich? Remember that album 'Surf Nicaragua?' What happened to that band?" “Live at Wacken” is a treat for those people who haven’t put their love for metal on hold for kids or career. This multimedia presentation captures the band with quality video, audio, and depicts them at their best, playing their most beloved tracks. "Live at Wacken" is definitely a must for any fan of Sacred Reich.