Artist: SADUS
Album: SWALLOWED IN BLACK REISSUE (DIGI)

Release date: 1990/ 2017
EAN/UPS: 3760053843920
Media type: CD

Sadus has received acclaim as being one of the fastest death/thrash metal bands ever to walk the planet. A status fairly deserved, as the Bay Area thrashers know zero remorse from the very beginning of their career. Surviving through the rise and fall of the thrash metal scene, Sadus remains among the heroes of old-school metal, successively holding their position in the music business. The 2006 release Out For Blood proved the undying mastery of the Americans. Now, with the re-release of their first three LPs, you can once again experience the brutality of pure Bay Area death/thrash collaboration.

Sadus was formed in Antioch, California in 1984, when all the band-members were in high school. The line-up included Darren Travis (vocals/guitar), Rob Moore (guitar), Steve DiGiorgio (bass) and Jon Allen (drums). Their first emerge to the scene took place in 1986 with the demo Death To Posers (D.T.P.), followed by another demo in 1987, called Certain Death. Both releases slowly cleared the band’s path to success, resulting in the contribution of two songs to the Raging Death compilation. Another year had to pass before the first album, Illusions could be released. Recorded in Richmond under the guidance of John Marshall (Metal Church), the debut LP sold in 7,000 copies, catching the attention of the upcoming Roadrunner Records label.

The intensive, breakneck material resembled Schizophrenia-age Sepultura - brutality merging with technically brilliant solos and grinding blast beats concluded in one solid punch in the face. No wonder the label quickly singed a deal with Sadus and by fall 1990 their second album, Swallowed in Black, sees daylight. Recorded with the help of well-known producer Michael Rosen (Death Angel, Forbidden), the follow-up surpassed the debut LP with even more brutality and effectiveness, backed by a razor-sharp production. Although a bit slower, the record proves that intensity can go well with technique – the extremely precise guitar playing easily blends with sonic aggression of the bass and drum sections. The album was enthusiastically greeted among the fans and helped the band to receive the SOS bill, which featured Sadus, Obituary and Sepultura. In 1991 Sadus got some additional mainstream attention, after ‘borrowing’ their bass player Steve DiGiorgio to Death for the Human album. DiGiorgio’s presence in Death has been noticed by metal fans, who soon out of curiosity checked out his main band – Sadus. This was a perfect time for Roadrunner to re-release the group’s debut, re-titled as Chemical Exposure, with totally new cover art. The year ends for Sadus with a successful European tour with Morbid Angel.

1992 welcomes the band’s third and most mature album yet – A Vision of Misery. The band has underwent a definite progress, focusing mainly on mid-paced compositions with more emphasis on technique and musical variety. In 1993 DiGiorgio flies back to Florida to record another album for Death – Individual Thought Patterns. He spends the whole year touring with Death and after returning home he decides to quit Sadus. What could have been the definite end for the band, clears in 1994, as DiGiorgio comes back temporarily for some live shows and the recording of a new demo. However, during this recording Rob Moore leaves the band, making Sadus into a trio from now on. The mentioned demo (red demo) is released to the public, gaining some good reviews and acclaim from the fans. It wasn’t until early 1996, however, that the band singed a record deal with Mascot Records. By this time DiGiorgio has officially rejoined Sadus. The following years brought two more albums, Elements of Anger (1997) produced by Scott Burns and the recent Out For Blood, with guest appearance by Chuck Billy of Testament.

Sadus remains a powerful influence on all the death/thrash scene, which has evolved drastically throughout the years. Both Jon Allen and Steve DiGiorgio have become metal icons thanks to their talent, with the former cooperating with Dragonlord and Testament, and the latter known from backing groups such as Autopsy, Control Denied, Death, Dragonlord, Iced Earth, Death, Testament and many more. Yet, Sadus is by far their most successful achievement, with the first three albums conjoining powerful, aggressive riffs with insane tempo and flawless drum lines. This is a part of history a true metal fan cannot miss out on.

TRACKLIST:

1. Black
2. Man Infestation
3. Last Abide
4. The Wake
5. In Your Face
6. Good Rid'nz
7. False Incarnation
8. Images
9. Powers Of Hate
10. Arise
11. Oracles Of Obmission

Bonus tracks:

11. Kill Team
12. Fight Or Die