One of the frontrunners of the 80's Thrash boom, Arizona's SACRED REICH scored notable success particularly in Europe with their 'Surf Nicaragua' mini-album. SACRED REICH was founded at Coronado High School in Scottsdale during 1985 by vocalist / bassist Phil Rind, guitarists Jeff Martinek and Jason Rainey and drummer Greg Hall. The group debuted in late 1985 with a four track cassette demo entitled 'Draining You Of Life'. It was intended for then singer Dan to put down vocals but an illness prevented his participation, necessitating Rind stepping up to perform singing duties.

At this juncture, Martinek had a change of heart and opted out for a military career. This vacancy was plugged by Wiley Arnett. The songs 'Sacred Reich' and 'Ignorance' were given the benefit of a re-record and, with strong support from FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's Jason Newsted, the track found inclusion of the Metal Blade compilation album 'Metal Massacre VII'. From here, the group soon snagged a deal with full-blown album deal with Metal Blade. The debut 'Ignorance' album was released in October 1987. From this point, Sacred Reich, managed by The Bootlegger club owner Gloria Bujnowski, launched into a relentless touring schedule.

The stop-gap 'Surf Nicaragua' mini-album, which included 'Draining You Of Life' from SACRED REICH's demo and a version of BLACK SABBATH's 'War Pigs', was issued and was strangely the release that set SACRED REICH onto the world market. Such was the response to this record that SACRED REICH would find themselves upon a previously unplanned rollercoaster world tour. North American dates kicked in during 1988 with ATROPHY then FORBIDDEN prior to European dates with MOTȪRHEAD before hooking up once more with FORBIDDEN through Europe in 1989. SACRED REICH's appearance at the 'Dynamo Open Air' festival in Eindhoven, Holland was caught on tape for the mini-album 'Alive At The Dynamo', released through Roadracer Records.

Switching labels to Enigma, the group returned with the politically charged 'The American Way' in 1990, this collection unexpectedly boasting a hybrid thrash-funk workout '31 Flavors' extolling the merits of other musical strains. Although unrepresentative of the album, Enigma chose '31 Flavors' as its radio promotion tool. US touring included the high profile support to PANTERA's 'Vulgar Display Of Power' tour whilst gigs in Europe found VENOM as opening act. In January 1991 SACRED REICH played in Mexico supported by TRANSMETAL, MAKINA, NEXT and DRAKSEN.

The 1993 'Independent' album, produced by Dave Jerden at Eldorado Studios, North Hollywood and issued on the new Disney owned Hollywood label, saw a SACRED REICH line-up of Rind, guitarists Wiley Arnett and Jason Rainey and drummer Dave McClain, the latter a veteran of SAN ANTONIO SLAYER. The accompanying single release, 'A Question', saw the band covering FEAR's 'Let's Have A War'. Although the group had taken a step up in terms of budgets, they lost momentum due to the extended hiatus between albums.

In 1994 SACRED REICH cut another cover version at the request of Columbia Records, their rendition of BLACK SABBATH's 'War Pigs' intended for use on the 'Nativity In Black' tribute. Although 'War Pigs' featured on pre-release promotional EPs issued to radio, it oddly failed to appear on the finished album.

Although SACRED REICH remained relatively quiet during 1995 they did finally see their version of 'Sweet Leaf' to the 'Hempilation' album. The band also cut a version of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Rapid Fire' that included a guest vocal from Rob Halford which to date remains unreleased. Earlier that year Dave McLain had been offered a position with MACHINE HEAD, which he at first declined, but would eventually join the high profile Californian neo-Thrashers in December.

Shortly after 1996's Bill Metoyer produced 'Heal' outing Hall rejoined the fold but it was to be stand in man Chuck Fitzgerald who took the drum stool for the band's world tour. That same year esteemed Swedish Deathsters DARK TRANQUILLITY honoured the band with a cover of the 'Sacred Reich' anthem as a bonus track for their album The Gallery.

Greg Hall was back in the band by 1997 as Fitzgerald journeyed on to TONGUE-N-GROOVE then GYPSYCHO. Arnett, in alliance with former ST. MADNESS vocalist Patrick Flannery, would be located during 2001 assembling a fresh band project entitled THE HUMAN CONDITION. However, these plans were put back when on 2nd August Arnett rolled his car while driving to Phoenix. The guitarist suffered several cracked ribs, bruising of his spleen, bruises and abrasions.

Meantime Hall joined SOULFLY during October 2001. This act duly paid homage to SACRED REICH by covering 'One Nation' for their 2002 album, the track also featuring Wiley Arnett on guitar. In early 2003 Arnett came back to the fore with the THE HUMAN CONDITION, an alliance now also featuring Scott Twitty of BLUDGEON.

In November 2006 SACRED REICH, comprising Phil Rind, Wiley Arnett, Jason Rainey and Greg Hall, announced they were were set to reunite for several shows in Europe in 2007, including an appearance at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival on August 4th.

Displeased Records's reissued SACRED REICH's classic album 'The American Way' in February 2009 complete with upgraded layout, remastering plus unreleased pre-production demo bonus tracks and a video clip. SACRED REICH were back on European soil that summer, featuring on the 'Bang Your Head' festival in Southern Germany plus the 'Graspop Metal Meeting' in Belgium.

The group featured on the TESTAMENT headlined the 'Mezcal Metal' festival taking place 13th September 2009 at Vive Cuervo Salon in Mexico sharing the stage with DEATH ANGEL, DEICIDE, GRAVE DIGGER, BELLADONNA, MALIGNO, MISERY INDEX, MORTUARY, THE AGONIST, TRANSMETAL and VOIVOD.