One of the most disturbingly perfect unions of technique and aggression, without a doubt, is Sadus on paper, thanks to the skill level of the guys involved and their well-known tastes in the spotlight. Just on paper? Hah… Leaving masterpieces like Illusions in the past aside, the arrival of Out For Blood after a seven-year silence hits our faces like a slap, proving exactly how true this is!
Since it’s Sadus we’re talking about, it’s impossible not to mention Steve Di Giorgio. I consider him definitely one of the top three bassists in the metal scene, an inspiration for many musicians, and someone who has never compromised on his musical approach. Sadus is, in a way, his own project. He himself says that Sadus is “the only band where I can purely do what I want.”
Indeed, the bass guitar in Sadus stands as prominently as a distortion-effect electric guitar in any metal album and offers mind-blowing parts. There is no change in this on Out For Blood, an 11-track album with a total length of 55 minutes and 38 seconds. The album was released under the Mascot Records label, which is worth noting.
The album kicks off with a crazy song called “In The Name Of…” and immediately in the first minute, you get the feeling of “what’s going on here?” Di Giorgio’s insane bass lines, combined with guitar riffs that you wouldn’t expect to be played along with such almost “funky” bass parts, launch a serious attack, and then Darren Travis’ wild vocals get your neck moving. The album contains many really interesting moments. For example, the electronic effects in the second track “No More.” I don’t know what kind of laziness or trance Di Giorgio was in when creating these, but it’s definitely quite interesting.
Drummer Jon Allen in the Sadus trio may not deliver an extremely extreme performance, but he definitely shows his musicianship. His small touches in certain parts prevent any possible monotony in the songs. You will certainly notice this while listening. For instance, the seventh track “Down,” which I consider the most intense and crushing song on the album, contains no speed or similar gimmicks, but the simple and repeated attack written in the breakdowns throughout the song strengthens its impact to a great extent, so it’s a track you must listen to and savor.
Another point is that with this album, Sadus seems to have somewhat moved away from the “Thrash/Death” label they have carried for years. There is serious anger and fury throughout the album, permeating everything. Rare blast beats and Darren Travis’ piercing vocal delivery are good examples of this. If you must put it in a category, Out For Blood is definitely an album where Thrash Metal predominates much more. But honestly, this doesn’t change anything. Sadus has a different chemistry. If you like this chemistry—which you have no reason not to—Sadus will become a very important band for you.
Regarding the production, I actually think better work could have been done on this album. For example, I wish it could have been produced by someone like Scott Burns or Andy Sneap. That would definitely have made the album even more perfect.
To sum up; if you want to listen to something rock-solid created with razor-sharp guitar riffs and a bass sound you won’t hear anywhere else, there’s no doubt: Out For Blood! Rock solid, rock solid!