Extol (2013) vs. Living Sacrifice - Ghost Thief (2013)

Extol (2013) vs. Living Sacrifice - Ghost Thief (2013)

Which do you think is the better release and why?

For me it's EXTOL!
On a discussion board it was asked of me what the new Extol sounded like. My reply was, "it sounds like a mixture of early, brutal Extol and the prog-rock band Yes." While that is an odd combination, it certainly begins to describe the sound of this album to me. There is strong death metal presence all over the album but it's more melodic and mixed with a lot of technically proficient progressive metal and melodic passages. What's more the songs are memorable and I found myself replaying this album over and over again.

The Living Sacrifice album is heavy (ie. down-tuned) and sees the band moving away from the metalcore sound of more recent albums adding in more thrash and death metal riffs. They are still incorporating the metalcore breakdown in just about every song. Some of those breakdowns give way to a short guitar solos, such as in "The Reaping" and "Straw Man". I wouldn't have minded if they had added even more solo work. LS really needs to stay away from clean vocals. They attempt to incorporate some non-growled vox here and there, such as in "Straw Man" but they really don't have a singer capable of doing so. "Ghost Thief" incorporates elements of all the band's past. In my opinion it's probably their most interesting since "Reborn" as I found most of their albums since then to be boring and forgettable.

"Moving away" from a boring metalcore sound definitely isn't what would set up an accolade on an album for me so I agree with you and vote Extol.

Extol, reason I just liked how they sounded better than Living Sacrifice.

Living Sacrifice for me. I don't care for the new Extol at all.

Extol.

Time will tell, but I think this might be their best work ever.

New Living Sacrifice sounds a lot like Killswitch Engage.

ultmetal wrote:

New Living Sacrifice sounds a lot like Killswitch Engage.

Yeah, I saw someone point that out on FB.

I wish LS would sound like Slayer again.   

EXTOL!! I still need to pick up the new album (along with many others) but I heard the album online and Extol just keeps writing great music.

Living Sacrifice but both are killer but in all actuality Living Sacrifice reformed and released 'Death Machine' in '08 and 'The Infinite Order' in '10 before 2013's 'Ghost Thief'.

Aside from LS being my fave Christian band I prefer it b/c I like Fitzhugh's vox and the band's overall musical abilities more. My only gripe is that Rocky Gray is such a good guitarist that I wish he was allowed to shine more, (I am bummed he went from guitar to drums on the latest Soul Embraced album as well), and I miss the extra percussion that 'Conceived In Fire' boasted.

Can't say as I'm too hot on either. There were moments from the new Living Sacrifice that got my head to bobbing, but nothing kept my attention for long.

The new Extol didn't really do anything for me. All the samples I checked it left me saying "meh, it's ok I guess"...

SideShowDisaSter wrote:

Can't say as I'm too hot on either.  There were moments from the new Living Sacrifice that got my head to bobbing, but nothing kept my attention for long.

The new Extol didn't really do anything for me.  All the samples I checked it left me saying "meh, it's ok I guess"...

The new Extol has to be experienced as a whole IMO. It's a perfect flow from beginning to end.

I'm really tired of hearing people say the new LS is "Thrash Metal". It is not. It's metalcore/death metal that is very similar to Killswitch Engage.

Living Sacrifice has my vote. I was never much of an Extol fan.

I don't mind metal-core, but i'm glad LS is incorporating some thrash back into their music again.

ultmetal wrote:

I'm really tired of hearing people say the new LS is "Thrash Metal". It is not. It's metalcore/death metal that is very similar to Killswitch Engage.

It is NOT death metal.

From what I've heard, the Extol is much, much better, but I still enjoy the LS. I have different ears, because for whatever reason I'm hearing thrash with metalcore templates--if that makes any sense.

mc666 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

I'm really tired of hearing people say the new LS is "Thrash Metal". It is not. It's metalcore/death metal that is very similar to Killswitch Engage.

It is NOT death metal.

Definitely has some death metal riffing, as well as the core "breakdowns". Would you agree with the Killswitch comparison MC666?

ultmetal wrote:

mc666 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

I'm really tired of hearing people say the new LS is "Thrash Metal". It is not. It's metalcore/death metal that is very similar to Killswitch Engage.

It is NOT death metal.

Definitely has some death metal riffing, as well as the core "breakdowns". Would you agree with the Killswitch comparison MC666?

Oh yeah, very much like KSE. The vocals aren't as good as KSE though.

I think track 1 sounds a lot like Shadows Fall. I agree with the vocals being weaker than Shadows Fall and KSE.

Voted for LS.I just can't get into the Extol at all.I can agree with the Yes comparison though,Ult.
And the LS is just ok IMO.To me LS where at their best with the debut.oddly enough so was Extol.

Thrasher73 wrote:

To me LS where at their best with the debut.oddly enough so was Extol.

Bingo. Personally, I don't think either band has been able to top their debut albums.

I'm reallly torn it is almost a 50 / 50 split for me. I have truly enjoyed them both myself!

I can't understand for the life of me the KSE comparisons, but whatever. KSE is metalcore at best and at their heaviest. And they sing in almost every song. They're not even in the same galaxy as LS from a sound and style perspective.

Ghost Thief is leaps and bounds heavier and more technical than anything since reforming for Reborn. I'm one of the few that never enjoyed Reborn much. It was okay.

LS just tend to be the band many love to hate and will never tolerate until DJ and Truby are back in the lineup.  

T-Roy wrote:

I can't understand for the life of me the KSE comparisons, but whatever. KSE is metalcore at best and at their heaviest. And they sing in almost every song. They're not even in the same galaxy as LS from a sound and style perspective.

Ghost Thief is leaps and bounds heavier and more technical than anything since reforming for Reborn. I'm one of the few that never enjoyed Reborn much. It was okay.

LS just tend to be the band many love to hate and will never tolerate until DJ and Truby are back in the lineup.  

Really 'cause I see LS as the band everyone loves and praises on matter what they do. I see very little hate cast on them. There are the handful of thrash fans (like myself) that like their debut best, but otherwise, take a look on Amazon. The reviews are glowing and giddy!

ultmetal wrote:

T-Roy wrote:

I can't understand for the life of me the KSE comparisons, but whatever. KSE is metalcore at best and at their heaviest. And they sing in almost every song. They're not even in the same galaxy as LS from a sound and style perspective.

Ghost Thief is leaps and bounds heavier and more technical than anything since reforming for Reborn. I'm one of the few that never enjoyed Reborn much. It was okay.

LS just tend to be the band many love to hate and will never tolerate until DJ and Truby are back in the lineup.  

Really 'cause I see LS as the band everyone loves and praises on matter what they do. I see very little hate cast on them. There are the handful of thrash fans (like myself) that like their debut best, but otherwise, take a look on Amazon. The reviews are glowing and giddy!

I love the debut too. Amazon reviews? Seriously?