// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs "In Search of Sanity" lost? Because it's insane to think it'll find itself.
| In Search of Sanity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released |
| |||
| Recorded | July (track 3)/December 1988,[1] 1989 (tracks 10–17) | |||
| Studios | Westside (track 3), Eden and Smokehouse Studios, London[1] | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 57:17
| |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | Stephan Galfas | |||
| Onslaught chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from In Search of Sanity | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Hi-Fi News & Record Review | A:2[6] |
| Martin Popoff | |
In Search of Sanity is the third studio album by English thrash metal band Onslaught, released on 24 April 1989, through London.[1]
This album was originally recorded with Sy Keeler, but London Records were not impressed with the final product from a commercial point of view and enforced a re-mix and a complete re-recording of the vocals by Grim Reaper frontman Steve Grimmett, being the only album featuring him. It features their two longest songs to date, "Blood Upon the Ice" and "Welcome to Dying".
While the album was mostly in the same thrash/speed metal vein as The Force, it contains a more polished sound than Onslaught's previous albums, acquiring a more progressive and melodic edge.[2][3]
Despite meeting mixed reviews by their fans, In Search of Sanity was moderately successful, peaking at number 46 on the UK charts while the single "Let There Be Rock" peaked at number 50 in that country.[8]
It was also Onslaught's last album before disbanding in 1991, only to reform in 2004 and the release of their fourth album Killing Peace in 2007.
Track listing
[edit]Liner notes adapted from the original LP.[1]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Asylum" (Instrumental) | 5:16 | |
| 2. | "In Search of Sanity" | Nige Rockett, Rob Trottman, James Hinder | 7:32 |
| 3. | "Shellshock" | Rockett, Trottman, Hinder | 6:54 |
| 4. | "Lightning War" | Rockett | 7:03 |
| 5. | "Let There Be Rock" (AC/DC cover) | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott | 4:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Blood Upon the Ice" | Rockett | 8:31 |
| 7. | "Welcome to Dying" | Rockett, Trottman, Hinder | 12:45 |
| 8. | "Power Play" | Rockett, Trottman, Hinder | 6:30 |
| Total length: | 57:17 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Confused" (Angel Witch cover) | Kevin Heybourne | 1:58 |
| Total length: | 59:15 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "In Search of Sanity" (Instrumental) | 5:16 | |
| 11. | "Shellshock" | Nige Rockett, Rob Trottman, James Hinder | 7:32 |
| 12. | "Fight with the Beast" | Rockett, Trottman, Hinder | 6:54 |
| 13. | "Blood upon the Ice" | Rockett | 8:31 |
| 14. | "Metal Forces" | Rockett | 6:37 |
| 15. | "Lightning War" | Rockett | 7:03 |
| 16. | "Welcome to Dying" | Rockett, Trottman, Hinder | 12:45 |
| 17. | "Let There Be Rock" (AC/DC cover) | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott | 4:06 |
| Total length: | 157:59 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Liner notes adapted from the original LP.[1]
- Onslaught is
- Steve Grimmett – vocals
- Nige Rockett – guitar
- Rob Trottman – guitar
- James Hinder – bass, backing vocals (except tracks 10–17)
- Steve Grice – drums, backing vocals (except tracks 10–17)
- Additional musicians
- Jody Gray, Dave Taggart, Phil Caffrey, Masaki Yamada, Stephan Galfas – backing vocals (except tracks 10–17)
- Steve Laws-Clifford – keyboards (except tracks 10–17)
- Production
- Stephan Galfas – producer, engineer, mixing
- Paul Mortimor, Richard Barraclough, Jean Baptiste Liere – engineers
- Noah "T.T." Baron – mixing
- Mixed at Atlantic Studios, New York City, NY in December 1988/January 1989
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 In Search of Sanity (LP, Album). Onslaught. London Records. 24 April 1989. 828 142-1.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - 1 2 "Onslaught – In Search Of Sanity (2CD via Dissonance)". withguitars.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- 1 2 "No Life 'til Metal - CD Gallery - Onslaught". nolifetilmetal.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- 1 2 3 "Onslaught – Original Period (1983–1991)". 19 July 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Onslaught - In Search of Sanity review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ Clark, Pete (August 1989). "Review: Onslaught – In Search of Sanity" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review. Vol. 34, no. 8. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 110. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2021.
- ↑ Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 407. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.