Sadus - Swallowed in Black (1990)^{Release ID: 2980}

Sadus’ debut nearly took my head off when I finally got around to checking it out earlier this year. It only ran for about 25 minutes, but it was venomous thrash metal of the finest order, and highly recommended. So, I was excited to pick up their second effort Swallowed in Black. The result is an album that I don’t enjoy quite as much, but is still an entertaining, shredding album that I’ll certainly come back to time and time again.

The main difference between the debut and Swallowed in Black is that the songs (and album for that matter) are generally longer, with an expanded sound. While there are still moments of thrashing madness throughout the album, there’s more of a focus on technical song writing, with an almost progressive feel to some tracks such as Images. One of the main reasons for this is the bass work of genius Steve DiGeorgio which snakes its way throughout the album. But all the musicians really stepped up to the plate for this album and it’s captivating from start to finish. I’ve always loved Darren’s completely messed up, vicious vocals!

Highlights for me are Images, The Wake and Arise. Swallowed in Black is well worth your time if you appreciate the more aggressive side of thrash metal, yet also don’t mind the more progressive side.

With good technique comes good progress. Technicality never bores me, but I'm sure it has bored people when it comes to bands that make 15+ minute compositions. Sadus has never done that though. Sure they're technical, but their debut Illusions has super-fast tracks with each side totaled up to that length. With their second album, Swallowed in Black, the exceptional interplay never ceases. Intense aggression is part of their technique!

One of the most obvious aspects of Sadus is the need for speed. Fast riffs and drums speed all around, though they don't surpass the speed of Illusions. It's so good to hear this supersonic chaos, for all this exciting mayhem. Thrash is all about speed and riffs, and the drumming dexterity really fits well with the amazing riffing. Fast extreme solos screech higher and louder than a cat with its tail in a blender, and the bass emphasizes the guitar work a bit. The rhythm guitar, bass, and drums all form a great rhythm section to pummel and kick a**.

From the opening highlight "Black", right there you get to hear the finger-licking bass of Steve Di Giorgio who would later use that talent for his time with Testament. The final minute of that song has some of the d*mn greatest interplay in thrash. H*ll, that song might just take the award as one of the greatest thrash metal hits! "Man Infestation" adds a bit of a spooky sludgy twist in the intro Darren Travis' demented shouting before delivering some more very speedy thrash. Then they add what sounds like many more riffs than Dark Angel's last album in the two-minute "Last Abide". One minute into "The Wake", the band unleashes some of their amazing chemistry. It has waken me up way more than coffee when writing this review in the morning.

"In Your Face" explodes like a grenade blasting away your face, all in just one minute! "Good Rid’nz" provides a complementary mix of riffing and bass, especially at the 3-minute mark. Another killer highlight! Death metal riffing can be found in "False Incarnation" in catchy variation you just gotta hear to believe.

There's less predictable brilliance in the melodic "Images". Then "Powers of Hate" contains some more of the chaotic aggression. The 6-minute highlight "Arise" is a grand showdown of alternating pacing and elaborating riffing, before closing with a doomy ending. This tech-death/thrash epic deserves more attention than Sepultura's album Arise. "Oracle of Omission" is one more compelling technical thrasher.

Please, just listen to this album! It doesn't surpass the awesome Illusions, but there really should be more attention for this album. It's out of print, but it still exists. Get it from a used CD store or YouTube, anywhere!

Favorites: "Black", "The Wake", "Good Rid'nz", "Images", "Arise"

Those of us old enough to be fortunate to have been listening to metal in 1990 will remember what a fucking cracking year it was for albums. Among all the obvious choices like Judas Priest Painkiller and Danzig Danzig II:Lucifuge sit some lesser recognised gems and high on that list is Sadus Swallowed In Black.

My penchant for pure ripping thrash was more than realised here with an album that to this day sounds as ferocious and intense as the first time I heard it. However there is more to this album than just an all out balls to the wall assault, throughout the entire record the mastery of Steve DiGiorgio on the (fretless) bass is breathtaking and he compliments the guitar work perfectly. One of the most technical players of his time his contribution on here is nothing short of superb. Blend the wondrous complexity of the music with Rob Travis' harsh and scathing vocal style and you have a near perfect combination for one of thrash metals best ever records.

There's a tech death edge throughout most of the riffs on Swallowed in Black and its delivered with all the speed and fervour you'd expect from such a release as well. The songs are well composed and show a real maturity from the writers which compliments the musicianship perfectly.  It's very easy for technical thrash metal to become blunted by the twists and turns deployed but because the band utilised this death metal element so well, the pace and tempo lose no edge whatsoever and the whole combination is one vintage blend of varying taste notes.

It does go on a bit though and the album composition overall doesn't sit right with me in some regards, hence it didn't quite get full marks.  Still have a must have album for me though.