In Search of Sanity

In Search of Sanity
Studio album by
Onslaught
Released
24 April 1989 (1989-04-24)
  • 30 October 2006 (2006-10-30) (reissue)
    24 April 2025 (2025-04-24) (2nd disc)
RecordedJuly (track 3)/December 1988 (1988-12), 1989 (1989) (tracks 10–17)
StudiosWestside (track 3), Eden and Smokehouse Studios, London
GenreThrash metal
Length
57:17
  • 59:15 (CD reissue)
    157:59 (2016 2nd disc)
Label
    • Blackend (CD reissue)
ProducerStephan Galfas
Onslaught chronology
The Force
(1986)		 In Search of Sanity
(1989)		 Killing Peace
(2007)
Singles from In Search of Sanity
  1. "Shellshock"
    Released: November 1988 (1988-11)
  2. "Let There Be Rock"
    Released: 8 May 1989 (1989-05-08)
  3. "Welcome to Dying"
    Released: 17 July 1989 (1989-07-17)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarHalf star
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewA:2
Martin PopoffStarStarStarStarStarStarStar

In Search of Sanity is the third studio album by English thrash metal band Onslaught, released on 24 April 1989 through London Records.

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.

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.

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

Liner notes adapted from the original LP.

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Asylum" (Instrumental) 5:16
2."In Search of Sanity"Nige Rockett, Rob Trottman, James Hinder7:32
3."Shellshock"Rockett, Trottman, Hinder6:54
4."Lightning War"Rockett7:03
5."Let There Be Rock" (AC/DC cover)Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott4:06
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Blood Upon the Ice"Rockett8:31
7."Welcome to Dying"Rockett, Trottman, Hinder12:45
8."Power Play"Rockett, Trottman, Hinder6:30
Total length:57:17
CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Confused" (Angel Witch cover)Kevin Heybourne1:58
Total length:59:15
2nd disc of a recorded live concert at the Bristol Hippodrome in 1989.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."In Search of Sanity" (Instrumental) 5:16
11."Shellshock"Nige Rockett, Rob Trottman, James Hinder7:32
12."Fight with the Beast"Rockett, Trottman, Hinder6:54
13."Blood upon the Ice"Rockett8:31
14."Metal Forces"Rockett6:37
15."Lightning War"Rockett7:03
16."Welcome to Dying"Rockett, Trottman, Hinder12:45
17."Let There Be Rock" (AC/DC cover)Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott4:06
Total length:157:59

Personnel

Liner notes adapted from the original LP.

Onslaught is
Additional musicians
Production

References

  1. 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)
  2. 1 2 3 "Onslaught – Original Period (1983–1991)". 19 July 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Onslaught - In Search of Sanity review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Onslaught – In Search Of Sanity (2CD via Dissonance)". withguitars.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "No Life 'til Metal - CD Gallery - Onslaught". nolifetilmetal.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 407. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.