It’s been a long 8 years for the SADUS fans, sadly wondering when or if they were going to see another effort from one of the most overlooked bands in tech-metal. Everybody should know Steve DiGiorgio, the bassist extraordinaire who has done a stint in every metal band ever to crawl from the primordial slime. If he and Jack Starr and Jorg Michael ever worked together, we would all fall through a black hole into an evil parallel universe. Yeah, too much Star Trek this weekend I think. But let’s delve into the latest and greatest of the reunion records, ”Out for Blood”.

“Out For Blood” is probably one of the most solid tech-metal releases to date. This record represents the joining of three musicians that can easily compare to RUSH in their heyday in terms of musicianship. Their music remains refreshingly unpretentious. In other words, these guys are not a bunch of showoffs that ruin the music pushing their own egos. DiGiorgio is bassist elite, but without the guitar and vocals of Darren Travis, and the skin-bashing of Jon Allen, this would not be SADUS. The compositions here are tight, winding and register as instant classics. Trying to find a better example of tech-thrash would be near impossible, but I guess you could look to pioneers like SLAUTER XSTROYES, and TENSION for a reference.

“Sick” is a prime example of what SADUS is all about. Blending old-school riff elements together with frantic bass lines and maniacal drumming, this is the real hybrid sound so many bands tried and failed to pull off in the late eighties. Remember all that funky bass thrash crap? While technical in nature, "Out for Blood" is never so over-the-top as to lose the listener. Every track has enough straight-ahead content to draw you in and keep your interest. Travis’ vocals are refreshing. He has an uncanny ability to come off with a full-on 80’s style, without being cheesy, and compliments the arrangements like cream with coffee. The fact that he does this while shredding his six-string is unbelievable. The title track gives me goose bumps every time it comes on, an incredible mix of stomping choruses, thrash and death (courtesy of guest vocalist Juan Urteaga from VILE). The tune twists and turns from a speed metal anthem to a slow PANTERA-esque crawl.

SADUS have mastered the art of creating both the technical and accessible. If you become a listener, you will become a fan. Unlike other bands of the genre that tend to fall apart in later years, SADUS is stronger than ever. Recommended.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/sadus

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