After several albums on Metal Blade Records, Sacred Reich signed to Hollywood Records for a short stint, but later returned to Metal Blade to continue their musical career. After breaking up in 2000, the band announced in November 2006 they would play several shows in the summer of 2007 in Europe, including Wacken Open Air.
Throughout its 37-year career (with the exception of a hiatus from 2000 to 2006), Sacred Reich has performed live globally, including playing at clubs, theaters, arenas and festivals. They have performed alongside numerous acts such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Slayer, Motörhead, Sepultura, Pantera, Exodus, Testament, Anthrax, Flotsam and Jetsam, Dark Angel, Accept, Napalm Death, Obituary, D.R.I, Vio-lence, Forbidden, Holy Moses, Forced Entry, Gwar, Suicidal Tendencies, Iron Reagan, Overkill, Kreator, Destruction, Corrosion of Conformity, Queensrÿche, King Diamond, Municipal Waste, the Cro-Mags, Sick of It All, Excel, Atrophy, Heathen, Armored Saint, Nuclear Assault, the Crumbsuckers, M.O.D., Agnostic Front, Death Angel, Onslaught, Xentrix, Coroner, Danzig, Crowbar, Viking, Evildead, Savatage, Trouble, Cathedral and Omen.
Former drummer Dave McClain went on to join Machine Head in 1995. Lead guitarist Wiley Arnett went on to form The Human Condition with St. Madness vocalist Prophet in July 2000.
The band also contributed the Black Sabbath cover "Sweet Leaf" to the Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML compilation album to benefit NORML, and the Subhumans cover "The Big Picture" appears as the B-side of the "Open Book" promotional single. A three disk boxed set with remastered versions of Ignorance and Surf Nicaragua with additional bonus material, including the "Draining You of Life" demo tape and a live DVD, was released in Europe only in the summer of 2007 by Metal Blade Records. In the spring of 2017, the band announced their first North American tour in 21 years.
In January 2018, Sacred Reich signed to Metal Blade Records and began working on their fifth studio album, Awakening, which was released on August 23, 2019. It is the band's first full-length studio album since 1996's Heal, and their first since drummer Dave McClain and guitarist Joey Radziwill replaced founding members Greg Hall and Jason Rainey respectively.
Founding member and former guitarist Jason Rainey died on March 16, 2020, at the age of 53 from an apparent heart attack.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Reich
Studio albums
Ignorance (1987)
The American Way (1990)
Independent (1993)
Heal (1996)
Awakening (2019)
Death Squad
Sacred Reich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will take control, no matter the cost
Bodies are mounting the carnage around you
At the last count, ten thousand have died
Taken by force
Controlled by fear
Death squad police of the right
Dissension, unrest
Those who oppose will meet death
Automatic weapons in hand
You say you're what the police want
Why must you kill them to secure their vote
Death squad escort them to the polls
Puppet regime with you at the head
You've rid them of a communist threat
Your brand of "democracy" is now in control
And all of your people lie dead
Taken by force
Controlled by fear
Death squad police of the right
Must stamp out subversion
Dissension, unrest
Those who oppose will meet death
"Democracy" at any cost
The methods of freedom unclear
Right-wing radicals, abusing control
The choice will be democracy of death
The lyrics to Sacred Reich's song "Death Squad" paint a picture of a violent and oppressive regime that will stop at nothing to maintain control. The first verse talks about how the government puts down anyone who opposes them, even if it means killing thousands of people. The second verse describes a situation in which the government uses violence to ensure that people vote for them. The bridge talks about how this regime has replaced democracy with a system of fear and violence.
The chorus repeatedly states that the "Death squad police of the right/Must stamp out subversion/Dissension, unrest/Those who oppose will meet death." The phrase "Death squad police of the right" shows that this regime is authoritarian and likely aligned with extreme right-wing ideology. The repetition of the phrase "Those who oppose will meet death" highlights the brutality of this government.
The song's overall message is a criticism of authoritarian governments and the violence they use to maintain power. It portrays a dystopian society where democracy has been replaced with fear, oppression, and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Putting to dead those who oppose you
Killing those who disagree with you
Will take control, no matter the cost
Doing whatever it takes to gain power
Bodies are mounting the carnage around you
Dead bodies are piling up as a result
At the last count, ten thousand have died
A large number of people have been killed
Taken by force
Using violence to gain control
Controlled by fear
Ruling through intimidation
Death squad police of the right
A police force that kills people who disagree with the right-wing ideology
Must stamp out subversion
The goal is to eliminate any opposition or deviation from the norm
Dissension, unrest
Disagreement and unease
Those who oppose will meet death
Anyone who disagrees will be killed
Automatic weapons in hand
Holding guns capable of firing repeatedly
You say you're what the police want
Claiming to be the ideal candidate for law enforcement
Why must you kill them to secure their vote
Questioning the motive behind killing people to gain votes
Death squad escort them to the polls
Accompanying people to vote under the threat of death
Puppet regime with you at the head
Being the leader of a government that serves another's interest
You've rid them of a communist threat
Eliminating the perceived communist danger
Your brand of "democracy" is now in control
Your distorted version of democracy is now running the country
And all of your people lie dead
Many people have been killed under your regime
"Democracy" at any cost
Championing democracy while ignoring its true principles
The methods of freedom unclear
The tactics used to achieve freedom are questionable
Right-wing radicals, abusing control
Extreme right-wing individuals exerting their power in a harmful way
The choice will be democracy of death
The end result of this so-called democracy is death and destruction
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: P RIND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind