UK-based band SACRILEGE date all the way back to 1982 (making them NWOBHM literally as well as musically). After a few demos the band was dissolved in 1987 and re-animated in 2007, since which they've released a compilation of their demos from the eighties and a  new record.

"Ashes To Ashes" is yet another compilation, this time of all the works the band has done throughout its thirty-five-year history. Wowie, that was one hell of an opening statement. Whatever happened to "Friends, Romans, Countrymen"? Anyways, back on topic, this here album is a rather interesting little bugger. Spanning more time of the band's career than I'm alive (all for the sake of appearance, don't worry, I was actually born roughly 13.4 billion years ago), the music here is all over the place in the melodic part of the metal spectrum - from VAN HALEN-style party rock to QUEENSRYCHE-esque prog to straight-on IRON MAIDEN style and most points in between.

It's rather easy to spot which tracks are older and which are newer - every instrument's performance has greatly improved over time, be it via lineup change or through the improvement of individual members. This "pin the timeline" game is fun, but it adds to the rather incoherent feel the record has. When it comes to instruments, I found the lead guitar to be especially fun throughout. The rhythm section doesn't usually very much stand out, and as for the vocals - the vocalist is very talented, but has a tendency to sometimes bite off more than he can chew to my ears.

Releasing a compilation album is always a risky decision - and the only band I've seen who can pull it off in succession has vocals by BRUCE DICKINSON. Although each song is okay and some are very cool, little activity since the last release raises question whether this compilation even merits existence - and the jumbled, all-over-the-place order of the tracks makes it even harder to find cohesion. If you're very familiar with the band you might enjoy it, but if not I suggest you listen to their stuff in the proper order.