Sadus – The Shadow Inside
Release Date: 17th November 2023
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Thrash Metal
FFO: Destruction, Exodus, Overkill, Kreator.
Review By: Eric Wilt
Sadus is new to me, but it turns out they aren’t new at all. Having formed in 1985, Sadus is an American thrash metal band that has released five albums to date. On 17 November, they will add number six, The Shadow Inside, to that list via Nuclear Blast. The current line-up consists of two original members of the band, vocalist/guitarist Darren Travis and drummer Jon Allen.
The musical style on The Shadow Inside is at times typical 80s thrash like that which can be heard on the tracks Anarchy, Ride the Knife, and No Peace, but more often, Travis and Allen opt for a groovier, slowed down thrash sound that works well for them. Standout examples of this are the songs Scorched and Burnt, The Devil in Me, and Pain. The penultimate track is an instrumental called New Beginnings, and with its military-style drumming, it leads the listener to believe that the final song will be a fighting song full of rage and speed. Alas, the title track, which closes out the album, doesn’t exactly send the album off in a blaze of glory, but with its groove-based riffing, it is still a fitting way for Sadus to end their comeback record.
While The Shadow Inside doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the world of thrash or groove metal, I still think it’s an enjoyable listen. Fans of the band will, no doubt, enjoy hearing them make music again.
(3.5 / 5)
