(Heavy Metal / Progressive Metal) Sonic Altar - No Sacrifice - 2011, MP3 (tracks), 192 kbps

Echoing the ghosts of the classic metal hey-day with a revatilized sound, a unique blend of style and influence, Sonic Altar are a force to be reckoned with. The worship of music, a translation of the band name, is really what it means to be Sonic Altar. With a mission of bringing back the melodic substance to hard rock and being a live act to remember, the band have worked themselves to the bone since conception. Sonic Altar is here to melt your face.

Formed in early 2006, Sonic Altar began as a jam band amongst school friends. That year the band played in Hong Kong and recorded a single which received national air play in New Zealand. Between 2006 and 2008 the band progressed, undergoing some line up changes and solidified it's harder edged direction in late 2008. With a firm direction set, the band set about writing a new catalogue of songs and played all over New Zealand in 2009, blowing audiences away with their live performances. Sonic Altar have also supported some very big names in their home country, such as Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Alice Cooper and Whitesnake.

In late 2009 the band decided that they had the right material to make an album. Instead of waiting to be discovered they decided to bite the bullet and make the album. In December of that year the band began recording with producer Mike Exeter (Black Sabbath, Jeff Beck, Glenn Hughes, Cradle of Filth) and finished mixing their debut album 'No Sacrifice', in May 2010.

In the vast sea of unsigned bands, Sonic Altar rises above the abundance of cliche metal groups, with a uniquely reminiscent sound and live show that is sure to revitalize the stagnating metal scene. Sonic Altar brings to the table the kind of rock that appeals across the board, receiving praise and gaining new fans of all ages at every show. Don't believe it? Then listen for yourself.

And to think... This is only the beginning...
http://www.myspace.com/sonicaltar
http://www.sonicaltar.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SonicAltar
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Sonic_Altar/3540327141

Sonic Altar's debut album 'NO SACRIFICE' is currently going through finishing touches and will be available very soon. The album was produced and engineered by MIKE EXETER from the UK who has worked with such bands as Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell, Jeff Beck, Glenn Hughes and Cradle of Filth. It was recorded over a 6 week period in two studios in Auckland, New Zealand. This meant two trips out to New Zealand for Mike, a 3 week stint in December 2009 and another 3 weeks in February 2010. Mike is very pleased with the album saying "The body of work on this album is astounding. Especially for a debut album from such a young band. There's a great cross section of stuff on here from a 9 minute epic, to a ballad and to straight forward 4 minute rockers. It easily stands up with anything I've ever worked on and I'm looking forward to working with Sonic Altar on future projects." The band are overwhelmed with how the easily the album came together and the result. "It's like a dream come true!" states vocalist Kane Bennett. "It was a great process. The album is very much performance based with little Pro Tools trickery going on. So many people seem to rely on that kind of thing these days. Mike really got the very best out of us and we were meticulous on all the details, yet it all is very organic and really sounds like a band playing together. We are over the moon with it and can't wait to release it upon the world." Stay tuned for more details.
http://www.metalunderground.com/reviews/details.cfm?releaseid=4241
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/no-sacrifice/id459000186
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Sonic_Altar/No_Sacrifice/304956

Kane Bennett - Vocals
Dave Hudson - Guitars
Tom Duffy - Guitars
Daniel Kilhams - Bass
Chris Hulbert - Drums