The American Way
Studio album by
Sacred Reich
ReleasedMay 15, 1990
Recorded1989–1990
StudioCornerstone Recorders
Track Records
California, U.S.
GenreThrash metal
Length35:45
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerBill Metoyer, Sacred Reich
Sacred Reich chronology
Alive at the Dynamo
(1989)		 The American Way
(1990)		 A Question
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Select[2]

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.

Overview

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'"

The last track "31 Flavors" is a funk rock song.[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Phil Rind, except where noted

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love... Hate"Rind, Wiley Arnett4:08
2."The American Way"Rind, Arnett3:41
3."The Way It Is" 4:58
4."Crimes Against Humanity" 6:17
Side B
No.TitleWriter(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, Arnett3:27
Total length:35:45
Remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
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

  • 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

Chart performance for The American Way
Chart (2021) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 69

References

  1. ↑ The American Way at AllMusic
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Sacred Reich The American Way Chart History". Billboard.
  4. ↑ "Album Review SACRED REICH-The American Way (re-issue) :: Maelstrom :: Issue No 66". www.maelstromzine.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sacred Reich – The American Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 19, 2021.


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