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JFH Music Review




Living Sacrifice
Nonexistent (Re-Release, Re-Mastered)




Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 38 Minutes, 11 Seconds
Street Date: September 14, 1999


I haven't been a Living Sacrifice fan for very long. Just last summer I bought the band's 2002 release Conceived in Fire. I liked CiF so much that I decided to get Living Sacrifice's earlier CD's as well. What I got was an interesting surprise entirely different from what I expected.

Believe me when I say that Living Sacrifice has changed over the years. Nonexistent was originally LS's second album in 1992, but I was lucky enough to gain access to the 1999 re-release. So for those of you expecting to hear what you heard on the band's later releases like Reborn, The Hammering Process, or Conceived in Fire, I'm sorry but that Living Sacrifice was 'nonexistent' back in the early '90s.

The guitars on Nonexistent are not nearly as pounding or as heavy as the metal we're used to today. The drums, however, are extremely pummeling on this album, but the biggest, most noticeable difference would have to be the vocals. They are slurred and shouted in such a way that they are almost undecipherable. It sounds kind of like a person gagging and trying to speak at the same time. The instrumental opening, "Emerge," doesn't hint at the vocals, so don't be deceived by it's peacefulness. It's kind of creepy when you first hear DJ start to sing, if you can call it that. It seems like the vocals are an opening scream that is quite common on metal records. But when they continue, it's apparent that the lead singer is saying words. Usually, all that you catch on the first time you listen to Nonexistent are the song titles gutturally rasped during a few of the tracks.

It's at times like this when you question a band's religion. But with a quick look at the lyrics, it's obvious that Living Sacrifice's message has never been better. It's words such as "The splendor of Christ's holiness, abound in, filled in righteousness..." and "O Lord, a resting place, arise, O Lord to be forever glorified..." from "Enthroned," the second track on Nonexistent, that make this CD great.

Living Sacrifice has no soft songs on this album, but some of the songs have smoother, acoustic sections, like "Void Expression," "Atonement," and the title track. It's kind of a tense softness, yet somehow soothing. As for the hardcore music on this album, certain melodies are often repeated sometimes to the point that you can't tell when one song ends and another begins.

All in all, Nonexistent is worth your time. The music is good and so is the message. Sure, the vocals can get irritating, but it's comfortable to know that even though sometimes you don't know what is being said, God does and He is being praised.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 2/12/06, written by Barney Hughes for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Solid State Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 38 Minutes, 11 Seconds
. Street Date: September 14, 1999
. Buy It: Amazon.com (1999 Re-Release)
  1. Emerge
  2. Enthroned
  3. Nonexistent
  4. Haven of Blasphemy
  5. ...To Nothing
  6. Void Expression
  7. Atonement
  8. Distorted
  9. Chemical Straightjacket
  10. Without Distinction

 

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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