ALBUM REVIEW: The Shadow Inside – Sadus

To say Californian thrashers SADUS have had a less than conventional career is a slight understatement. A handful of albums scattered sparsely across the last 40 years has made it difficult for them to gather or maintain any kind of momentum but has achieved enough to put sufficient clout behind their name. 2006’s Out For Blood was their last full-length outing and they must have left enough of a lasting impression to seal themselves a slot on the highly sought after roster of Nuclear Blast Records. November 17th signals the unveiling of The Shadow Inside – has it been worth the wait?

First Blood builds up the anticipation with a teasing, melodic intro before picking up the pace and returning to the headbang-inducing thrash-fuelled madness that brought the band such acclaim back in the 80s/90s. It doesn’t take long for the signature gristly vocals of Darren Travis to grab this track by the scruff of the neck. Face-melting lead work and formidable drum sequences join forces, brushing off those cobwebs in impressive fashion.

Scorched And Burnt almost tricks you into thinking your headphones are broken, approaching in a quieter, unassuming fashion that abruptly transitions into neck-snapping grooves. Just as you are becoming accustomed to the restrained but powerful stomp the track goes full batshit and launches into a wave of frenzied drum beats. It’s The Sickness ups the ante with a burst of galloping shredding that is sure to get your adrenaline gushing. The foot is planted firmly on the accelerator and has no intention of offering anything lower than terminal velocity.

Ride The Knife has that vintage thrash swagger seeping out of every pore, confidently bolstered by its raspy, venomous vocal expulsions. You can almost smell the carnage that this track is going to create when the crowd descends into a sea of flailing limbs and hair. Anarchy does its utmost to smash your eardrums to pieces with vicious rounds of instrumentation. The raw aggression and wild pacing are sure to be a hit. The Devil In Me possesses similar anthemic qualities, an invigorating intensity flows through its veins.

Pain offers up some deftly-executed proficiency to keep the momentum simmering away. Alluring hooks and eccentric lead segments follow suit, throwing in some additional variety. No Peace injects further chaotic bouts of speed, leaving your head in a spin with its twisting, turning riffing, whilst melancholic bass lines are New Beginnings‘ weapon of choice. This tees up title track and album closer The Shadow Inside, which toys with your emotions, lingering and teasing one final thrash-infused frolic. Fear not, this release does not leave silently.

There may have been a question mark of whether SADUS still had it in them to hit the heights of yesteryear but The Shadow Inside has emphatically confirmed that age is but a number. This effort is packed with a tonne of energy and excitement reaffirming why Travis and Allen spearheaded their rise to prominence in the first place. It remains to be seen whether this is their parting gift or if the future still holds a couple of surprises up its sleeve, but for now, grab your headphones, crank this up, and appreciate this feast of riffs that is more than capable of holding its own with the best thrash outings 2023 has had to offer.

Rating: 9/10

The Shadow Inside is set for release on November 17th via Nuclear Blast Records.

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