Sacred Reich is an American thrash metal band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 1985. As of 2025, the band’s lineup consists of vocalist and bassist Phil Rind, lead guitarist Wiley Arnett, rhythm guitarist Joey Radziwill, and drummer Eduardo Baldo. Former members include rhythm guitarist Jason Rainey, and drummers Greg Hall and Dave McClain, among others. Their music is characterized by mid-tempo song structures alongside influences from punk rock and hardcore punk, and their lyrics frequently address political and social themes. The band is associated with the second wave of thrash metal in the late 1980s, alongside groups such as Testament, Destruction, Death Angel, and Dark Angel.
Sacred Reich formed at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1985. The original lineup included Jason Rainey, Jeff Martinek, Mike Andre, Dan Kelly, and Ray Nay. Phil Rind later replaced Andre on bass, Greg Hall replaced Nay on drums, and Rind also became vocalist after Kelly became ill. After the release of the demo "Draining You of Life", Martinek left to join the military and was replaced by Wiley Arnett. With Arnett, the band re-recorded the song "Sacred Reich" and recorded the new track "Ignorance". The song "Ignorance" was included on the Metal Blade Records compilation "Metal Massacre VIII" (1987), which helped the band gain wider attention. The band then signed with Metal Blade Records and released their debut album "Ignorance" in 1987. The album incorporated punk rock and hardcore punk influences and featured lyrics dealing with topics such as war, racism, and political oppression. It received generally positive reviews, with some critics highlighting its political content and lyrical approach.
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