Review by Saxy S for Saidan - Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity (2024)

In a futile attempt to clean up my metal listening in 2024, December (and likely into January) is the month I will be bolstering the more extreme clans here at Metal Academy that I frequent the least (i.e. Fallen, Horde and North), so there are going to be a lot of short little blurbs about a handful of records I heard in 2024. Hopefully, I'll be able to do something a little bit more timely come 2025.

From Nashville, Saidan are making black metal that has ties classic heavy metal sounds with the catchy guitar riffs, complimented by visceral vocals, pummeling blast beats and a relentless energy. Visual Kill is a grandiose album, but gives the listener some breathing room with some post-rock interludes on "Switchblade Paradise" that sound amazing, The key is the tunefulness and I haven't heard a black metal album this tuneful since...probably Sojourner's Premonitions in 2020. Production wise, it is black metal so the treble in the guitars, shrieking vocals and the bell chime of the ride cymbal sound great, but a underwhelming low end means that the overall power feels restrained. Overall if you're looking for an album that is melodically epic as well as musically intense, Saidan might have what you're looking for.

Best Songs: Desecration of a Lustful Illusion, Switchblade Paradise, Veins of The Wicked, Visual Kill