The American Way is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Sacred Reich, released on May 15, 1990 via Metal Blade Records. The video for "The American Way" was used in the 1992 film Encino Man. The album debuted at No. 153 on September 1, 1990 on the Billboard 200 charts, lasting for nine weeks.[3] An enhanced remastered version released in 2009 contains pre-production demo recordings and a free patch. A second remastered version released that year contains the same songs plus "The American Way" promo video CD-ROM. The American Way is also Sacred Reich's final full-length studio album with drummer Greg Hall, who left the band in 1991.
| The American Way | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 15, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989–1990 | |||
| Studio | Cornerstone Recorders Track Records California, U.S. | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 35:45 | |||
| Label | Metal Blade | |||
| Producer | Bill Metoyer, Sacred Reich | |||
| Sacred Reich chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Select |  [2] |
Overview edit
Although the band had maintained a record of at least one release per year since their debut, Ignorance, this was their first full-length album for three years and also the first to show a musical progression from the all-out thrash metal which dominated their earlier material. Phil Rind, in the liner notes, explains the band's change in musical direction thus:
"Musically, we've tried to expand our horizons without forgetting our roots. Some people will appreciate the changes. Others, let's just say, they'd be satisfied with 'Ignorance II'"
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Phil Rind, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love... Hate" | Rind, Wiley Arnett | 4:08 |
| 2. | "The American Way" | Rind, Arnett | 3:41 |
| 3. | "The Way It Is" | 4:58 | |
| 4. | "Crimes Against Humanity" | 6:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "State of Emergency" | 6:20 | |
| 6. | "Who's To Blame" | 3:40 | |
| 7. | "I Don't Know" | 3:14 | |
| 8. | "31 Flavors" | Rind, Arnett | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 35:45 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The American Way" (Pre-Production Demo) | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Love...Hate" (Pre-Production Demo) | 3:56 |
| 3. | "Crimes Against Humanity" (Pre-Production Demo) | 5:35 |
| 4. | "State of Emergency" (Pre-Production Demo) | 4:39 |
| 5. | "I Don't Know" (Pre-Production Demo) | 2:55 |
| 6. | "31 Flavors" (Pre-Production Demo) | 0:31 |
| Total length: | 56:51 | |
Credits edit
- Phil Rind – bass, vocals
- Wiley Arnett – lead guitar
- Jason Rainey – rhythm guitar
- Greg Hall – drums
- The Unity Horns – horns on "31 Flavors"
- Tony Brewster – trumpet
- Will Donato – saxophone
- Tim Moynahan – trombone
- Recorded and mixed in 1989-1990 in California, U.S. at Cornerstone Recorders with additional recording at Track Records
- Produced by Bill Metoyer and Sacred Reich
- Engineered by Bill Metoyer
- Assistant engineered by Scott Campbell
- Cover illustration by Paul Stottler
Charts edit
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] | 69 |
References edit
- ^ The American Way at AllMusic
- ^ Harrison, Andrew (July 1990). "Review: Sacred Reich — The American Way". Select (magazine). No. 1. London: EMAP Metro. p. 109. ISSN 0959-8367. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk.
- ^ "Sacred Reich The American Way Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Album Review SACRED REICH-The American Way (re-issue) :: Maelstrom :: Issue No 66". www.maelstromzine.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sacred Reich – The American Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
External links edit
 | This 1990s thrash metal album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |