Formed in 1981, Sacred Rite is known to their island home and to various metal clichés around the world as Hawaiian Heavy Metal icons. As part of the underground heavy metal explosion of the early eighties, Sacred Rite saw moderate success with metal fans around the world.
Their first two independent releases, Sacred Rite and The Ritual, reached as far as Europe and Japan, receiving rave reviews in metal magazines such as Kerrang, Burnn, Metal Hammer, Metal Forces and in the US –Hit Parader. Selling nearly 14,000 units between the two LP’s worldwide was quite a feat for an independent, self contained unit, especially considering that it was done from the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no inter-net to speak of –as it hadn’t even been invented yet.
Following the success of these two records, Sacred Rite recorded Is Nothing Sacred, which was picked up by Budisque in Holland and Restless in the US, receiving distribution through Capitol Records. US tour dates followed along with opening slots for Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Triumph, and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Sacred Rite’s demise came at their most successful point. In 1987, the group was approached by Polygram Records to do some demos for the label with Polygram producers, Sonny Limbo and Jeff Asher. Sacrificing their heart and soul for a more commercially driven, corporate sound caused disheartened feelings towards the music industry and between band members. By 1990 the group splintered, Kevin Lum leaving the scene completely due to illness and the others going on to form other bands, none of which saw the success of Sacred Rite.
In 2000, Sentinel Steel Records approached each of the band members about re-releasing their 3 classic albums in a 2 CD compilation. In 2002, Sacred Rite: Rites of Passage volume 1 & 2 were released. Amazed by the response from metal fans around the world, once again, the group began discussing a possible reunion. Unfortunately, Kevin Lum, who was a lifelong diabetic, lost his life to the disease in November of 2002.
By 2004, the success of Rites of Passage volume 1 & 2 had exceeded expectations. Surviving Sacred Rite members decided to move forward with the reunion –at least in recorded form. Their intention is to keep the spirit of Kevin Lum very much alive.
Sacred Rite: Resurrection is slated for independent release on September 1, 2007.
Other noteworthy information:
Mark Kaleiwahea is currently the substitute touring guitarist for Slaughter.
Jimmy Caterine released two independent CD’s. 2003’s, Caterine: Cognition, has seen moderate success. Both CD’s are available through independent distributors, worldwide, and through iTunes.
Sacred Rite: Resurrection -Hawaiian Heavy Metal Reborn
Sacred Rite: Resurrection is this Hawaiian metal icons first release of newly recorded material in over 18 years. The CD is dedicated to the memory of Sacred Rite drummer, Kevin Lum.
Honolulu, HI. July 17, 2007 - Long overdue, Sacred Rite: Resurrection should prove to be, not only, a perfect reunion disc, but also, a fitting tribute to Sacred Rite drummer, Kevin Lum.
Following the 2002 release of the Sacred Rite compilation discs, Rites Of Passage volumes 1 & 2 from Sentinel Steel Records, Kevin Lum lost his lifelong battle with diabetes. In 2004, surviving members, Mark Kaleiwahea, Jimmy Caterine, and Peter Crane began a labor of love by extracting samples of Lum’s drum tracks from previous works and, painstakingly, arranging them around new material written by the group.
Sacred Rite: Resurrection is a journey back to classic progressive metal with a modern twist. The CD is not intended as a comeback album, but rather, a celebration and tribute to, not only, Kevin Lum, but to classic metal fans around the world.
Resurrection will be on sale by September 1, 2007 at www.SacredRite.com, www.Caterine-Music.com, and www.SentinelSteel.com followed by a release at all the obvious places that carry independent music, including CD Baby, Amazon, and iTunes.
You can hear a track from the new Sacred Rite CD called Resurrection and view the amazing CD cover painted by fantasy artist, Michael Whelan right now at MySpace.com/SacredRite.
Sacred Rite existed from 1980-1989 and are still recording today! Release date for SACRED RITE: RESURRECTION to be announced SOON!! - so please keep visiting here and at the website...
You can read the band's lengthy and complete bio HERE.
Just passing through in a vain attempt to catch up on comments on here..Lol..I have absolutely no chance of ever catching up..But I thought I could at least say drop in and say, Hi and wish you an awesome week ahead, take care, much love, Wendy, x
Hi! We are just fighting with twitter...jesus this website has some server problems whole the time;) Do you have twitter? What do you think about the idea behind it? Hope your day rocked your socks off, Keep on good work and think about us - it's spring and everybody needs love;)
Soon, busy time of year for me. Plus, when sit down to write on the acoustic, after 2 or 3 minutes, the only thing that comes out is old Van Halen songs!!!!
