Thrash metal icons Sacred Reich are heading back into the studio next year to record their follow up to 2019’s Awakening.

While speaking with Ireland’s Overdrive (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), frontman Phil Rind was asked directly about whether the band was working on new material. While he could have kept that information close to the chest, he decided to spill the beans.

“We probably have four to five to nine new songs in the works, and we actually were looking into booking a studio to record, but things didn’t work out that way. We’re excited to finish up [our European] tour [with Sepultura], and then I’m guessing that in 2023 we’ll eventually get back into the studio and start recording a new album.”

So there ya have it. A lot of bullshit has happened politically since we last had a Sacred Reich album, so they’re sure to have enough ammunition to put out a scathing piece of music.

As for the band’s return after more than 20 years away from music, Rind said the most interesting part was writing the new material and seeing how fans reacted to Awakening.

“It’s interesting because being in a band, playing the old stuff night after night, that’s fine, but being able to bring in new material that slots in so nicely alongside the older tunes… well, that really gave us a shot of adrenaline. Since then, we’ve become more of a forward-thinking band. We have new stuff to play, and as the tour , it was really fascinating to see the music grow with the audience night after night. That was a real eye-opener for us, and it also felt really good. That was back in 2019 when we went out as headliners for a bunch of U.K./European shows. Having our new material make that connection with people, that was just insane to see. I’d not experienced that feeling in decades prior to that tour. That whole tour really changed our focus as a band.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m insanely stoked for new Sacred Reich, since that means new jams from a classic thrash outfit and very likely a brand new tour with dates all over the place. Any chance for new thrash metal is a good thing in my book.

It’s been a looooong year of partyin’, booze, and killer tunes from Metal Blade Records, as they’ve spent 2022 commemorating the label’s 40th anniversary — and it ain’t about to stop yet.

Like a sorority girl that swears it’s her “birthday month” so she deserves a party every day, the insanely influential label has spent the entire year reminding everyone that it’s their 40th anniversary. But unlike Stacey over there, they’ve done right by the fans by doing things like re-releasing rare finds, setting up special Spotify playlists for fans to enjoy, and orchestrating special live gigs.

This Saturday, the first live gig they’ve got booked is going to take place in Las Vegas with Sacred Reich geared up and ready to kick some serious ass at The Space.

Ever since the mid-80s, Sacred Reich has spent most of their existence on Metal Blade Records. Most recently, they released their killer fifth studio album Awakening in 2019 via Metal Blade.

Doors for the show open at 8 p.m. this Saturday. Every attendee that walks through the door will be automatically entered into a raffle for a shot at a sweet Metal Blade 40th Anniversary Swag Bag. Tickets are $20 (with a $3.50 service charge) and are on sale now.

If you can’t make it to the Sacred Reich show but plan on being in Sin City next month, Metal Blade will be hosting another celebratory gig, though that one will feature Killswitch Engage with special guest Fit for an Autopsy and labelmates Visigoth at the House of Blues on October 5.

It’s all just one big, worthwhile party for one of the most important labels in the label that made sure we got exposed to bands like Metallica, Armored Saint, Slayer, Gwar, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, and The Black Dahlia Murder — just to name a few. Here’s to another 40 more.