Living Sacrifice just screams old-school thrash. The fast, rhythmic drums, typical power-chord progressions, rough, punk vocals, and fast, soaring solos that defined early 90's thrash metal are all present. Tracks like "The Prodigal," which starts off as a simple drum line and suddenly breaks into a fast guitar lick, and "Phargx Imas," which, after a few seconds of feedback, spirals into a whirlwind of guitars so intense and fast it takes you a minute to catch on to the rhythm, really showcase the band's talent. The lead progressions on the album are not necessarily complex, but are still very interesting and effective in holding the listener's attention and keeping them guessing. Likewise, the chord progressions are really nothing new, but are done well and not recycled song after song. An especially enjoyable aspect of the album are the solos; while sometimes simple, there are lots of whammy effects and pinch harmonics that give them an almost "over-the-top" feel, and of course contain sporadic speed licks.

Lyrically, the album focuses on man's depravity and inherent sinfulness, but many songs offer hope of redemption. The song "Obstruction" speaks of sin in our lives that keep us from following God, but then reminds that Jesus holds the power to overcome those obstacles. The messages are also easy to understand, contrasting heavily with some of the more obscure, metaphorical lyrics of today's scene, and I appreciated that fact.

If there is anything to say against the album, it certainly isn't anything major. Despite being re-mastered, it still has a very rough, almost "garage band" quality too it. The music, despite being done very well, is nothing especially groundbreaking, and the songs generally follow the same structure, although for the most part each one remains fairly unique.

Fans familiar with the band's later work will notice a significant difference in sound, especially A.J.'s old-school vocals and the raw thrash sound as opposed to the band's more recent metal-core tendencies. The album is still a favorite among long-time fans, and for good reason. This is a solid metal release with a "classic" feel to it. Any fan of metal or Living Sacrifice looking to learn a little metal history would be wise to enroll in Living Sacrifice's self-titled debut.