SACRIFICE - ON THE ALTAR OF ROCK - Switzerland 12" Vinyl LP Album
- The Sole Release by Switzerland's Cult Metal Band SACRIFICE – A Power-Speed Masterpiece from 1985
This is the original Swiss issue of this album
, Sacrifice (changed it's band name later into Jade) and was a Swiss Power metal band.
This Swiss Sacrifice band is NOT to be confused with the Canadian band with the same name. Sacrifice was a Heavy Metal band from the Delemont, Jura in Switzerland and formed in 1982 , and inspired other Swiss Metal bands like "Celtic Frost", Coroner, Hellhammer, Killer, Krokus,
Sacrifice is a Swiss heavy metal band from Delemont, Jura, Switzerland, formed in 1982. The band's original lineup consisted of Serge Kottelat (guitar, vocals), Jean Parrat (bass), Felix Artho (drums), and Kiki Rais (guitar). The band has released nine studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation album. Sacrifice has toured extensively throughout Europe and North America.
"On the Altar of Rock" is the band's debut album, released in 1984. The album was recorded at Spygel Tonstudio in Kirchheim, Germany, and it was produced by Sacrifice and Manfred Lohse. The album features a mix of heavy metal, speed metal, and power metal, and it is considered to be one of the most influential Swiss metal albums of all time.
"On the Altar of Rock" was a critical and commercial success in Switzerland. The album reached number 1 on the Swiss charts, and it helped to establish Sacrifice as a leading force in the Swiss metal scene. The album is considered to be a classic of the Swiss metal genre, and it is a must-have for any fan of the genre.
Music Genre:
Swiss Power Speed Metal
Album
Production information:
The album: "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock" was produced by:
Sacrifice for Musk Project, Einsiedeln, Switzerland.
Sound/Recording Engineer(s):
Walter "Batze" Kramer, Bernd Settgast, Manfred Lohse.
Walter "Batze" Kramer is a legendary German sound engineer who defined the sonic identity of 1980s heavy metal. Known for his sharp ear and innovative techniques, he worked with cult bands like Stormwitch, Gravestone, Tox, and Necronomicon, shaping a generation’s metal sound. Discover his legacy in this
detailed biography
.
This album was recorded at:
Spygel Tonstudio, Kirchheim, 1984 Germany.
Album cover design:
Vincent Rais
Album cover photography: Francois Enard
Record Label & Catalognr:
CAMEL Records C 70037 / LC 8824
Record Format:
12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
Year & Country:
1985 Made in Germany
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock
Band-members, Musicians and Performers
Jean Parrat - bass
Serge Kottelat - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Felix Artho - Drums
Kiki Rais - Guitar
Complete Track-listing of the album "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock"
The detailed tracklist of this record "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock" is:
Track-listing Side One:
The Eyes of the Possible
Jee the Loser
Rotten Dream
Reason of Silence
Hot Street
Track-listing Side Two:
Can't Understand You
Little Killer Man
Dark Confusion
Clear Out
High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock"
The album cover of SACRIFICE - On The Altar of Rock is a striking piece of fantasy horror art. Dominating the center is a decayed, dragon-like skeletal figure with gnarled claws and tattered, leathery wings. The creature appears to be rising or chained to a crumbling altar composed of aged, broken stone columns.
Its head is bowed, with one eye socket glowing faintly, as if alive or reanimated. The altar seems suspended in a swirling maelstrom of dark red, pink, and black mist, suggesting otherworldly energy or infernal sacrifice. Sharp beams of white light cut across the figure’s torso, emphasizing metallic textures and skeletal features.
Above the scene, the band name SACRIFICE is boldly rendered in gold metallic lettering with jagged, spiked accents evoking a weaponized typeface. At the bottom right corner, the album title ON THE ALTAR OF ROCK is written in clean, silver serif font.
The overall mood of the artwork conveys darkness, decay, and ritualistic power — visually reinforcing the album’s heavy metal themes of destruction and transcendence.
Album Back Cover Photo of "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock"
The back cover of SACRIFICE - On The Altar of Rock is visually centered around a band portrait of the four members standing confidently in front of a surreal, demonic figure. The band — Jean Parrat, Serge Kottelat, Félix Artho, and Kiki Rais — is arranged in a tight semi-circle, facing forward with intense gazes. They wear casual late-'80s/early-'90s rock attire, including a striking white leather jacket worn by Kottelat.
Behind them, a massive, shadowy creature with outstretched bat-like wings and a horned skull looms in translucent form, its silhouette created using spectral white and bluish wisps of smoke that stretch across the black background. This ghostly imagery echoes the front cover’s fantasy-horror theme.
The tracklist is split evenly on the left and right sides of the artwork — five songs per side — set in lowercase white serif font:
Side One: the eyes of the possible, joe the loser, rotten dream, reason of silence, hot street Side Two: can't understand you, little killer man, dark confusion, clear out.
Below the image are detailed credits listing production, engineering (notably Batze Kramer and Bernd Settgast), recording location (Spygel Tonstudio, Kirchheim/Teck), cover design by Vincent Rais, and photography by François Enard. The CAMEL Records and MUSK Project logos appear at the bottom right, along with contact and distribution information.
Photo of "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock" 12" LP Record - Side One:
This image shows Side A of the original 12-inch vinyl record for SACRIFICE - On The Altar of Rock, released by CAMEL Records. The record features a clean, glossy black surface with visible spiral grooves and a central label in deep violet-purple.
The label displays the CAMEL logo in bold metallic blue, slightly distressed and outlined with a faded glow effect. It includes essential technical data: the catalog number C 70037, side indication “Side A”, and playback format “ST 33” (Stereo, 33 RPM).
Below the title On The Altar of Rock, five track titles are listed:
1. The Eyes of the Possible – 4:14
2. Joe the Loser – 3:54
3. Rotten Dream – 3:19
4. Reason of Silence – 3:54
5. Hot Street – 3:34
Publishing rights are credited to GAMA Musikverlag, based in Kirchheim/Teck, West Germany. Around the outer rim, German text outlines legal copyright and distribution details in small type, forming a circular border around the label. The overall visual presentation reflects classic 1980s European heavy metal record design.
Photo of "Sacrifice On The Altar of Rock" 12" LP Record - Side Two:
This image displays Side B of the SACRIFICE - On The Altar of Rock 12-inch vinyl LP, pressed on standard black vinyl. The label is centered in a purple hue, matching Side A, and features the same CAMEL Records branding in bold, cracked blue lettering at the top.
The label includes vital cataloging information such as C 70037, copyright by GEMA, side indication "Side B", and playback speed "ST 33" for stereo at 33 RPM. The tracklist for Side B is clearly printed below the title and includes:
1. Can’t Understand You – 4:28
2. Little Killer Man – 2:50
3. Dark Confusion – 4:04
4. Clear Out – 3:45
Publishing rights are attributed to GAMA Musikverlag, with a German address in Kirchheim/Teck listed at the bottom. The outer label edge is encircled by a copyright protection notice in white German text, emphasizing the album's legal and production authenticity.
The surface of the vinyl appears well-preserved, with visible grooves and no obvious damage or wear, making this a valuable collector's piece for fans of 1980s European heavy metal.
Hailing from Delemont, Switzerland, Sacrifice emerged in 1982 as a pioneering force in the Swiss heavy metal scene. Their aggressive sound, blending elements of speed, power, and traditional heavy metal, captivated audiences and solidified their place as one of the most influential Swiss metal bands of all time. With a career spanning decades, Sacrifice's energetic live shows and powerful discography continue to resonate with metal fans worldwide.
SACRIFICE (CH) - Gates of Time 12" Vinyl Maxi Single
Sacrifice is a Swiss heavy metal band from Delemont, Jura, Switzerland, formed in 1982. The band's original lineup consisted of Serge Kottelat (guitar, vocals), Jean Parrat (bass), Felix Artho (drums), and Kiki Rais (guitar).
SACRIFICE (CH) - On The Altar Of Rock 12" Vinyl LP
"On the Altar of Rock" is the band's debut album, released in 1984. The album was recorded at Spygel Tonstudio in Kirchheim, Germany, and it was produced by Sacrifice and Manfred Lohse. The album features a mix of heavy metal, speed metal, and power metal, and it is considered to be one of the most influential Swiss metal albums of all time.
