If you look back at bands within death metal that have been around for more than just a decade you would quite quickly come upon Chile’s Sadism who have been in existence for over 30 years and even prior to that the band had two other monikers, namely Black Vomit and Sadist before settling on Sadism in 1989 as their permanent band name. In those three decades plus the band has released nine full lengths previously and whilst they may not have a release rate as prolific as some old school death metal bands the quality has certainly been consistent from album to album. Added to that you also have a band with a stable line up with two original members from the 1980s incarnation and two others who have been in the band for a decade or two decades, which is to be admired these days when many bands have revolving door line-ups.
‘Obscurans’ is album number ten, as you’ve probably worked out, and clearly the band shows no signs of wearing out their tried and tested formula of scathing riffage but modernised for the new era of death metal fans with a production that could break rocks. Bands from over 30 years ago cut their teeth on thrash, adapting it to a more brutal style and Sadism are no different with their riffing style which is caustic and ferocious as opener ‘Exsanguination’ proves. I absolutely love the sound they have on this album, it has a rawness and primal savagery that makes the riffs cut deep mortal gouges into the listener. The bands use of groove doesn’t go unnoticed either as ‘On Your Knees’ shows and reminded me a fair bit of Jungle Rot or Six Feet Under. The grooving brutality makes the song catchy of course as we get a switch to a more thrash style on ‘Diabolution’ which I tried to figure out its meaning and decided it was possibly an amalgamation of a couple words, but I could be wrong. The tune is far quicker here, blast beat dominance infects its start but once it twists into the thrash I was reminded of Possessed on their seminal ‘Beyond The Gates’ album though with a far better sound.
There is a colossal urgency to this album too, each track seems to smash in without ceremony as ‘Lower Astral Entities’ amply demonstrates with its catchy beat amidst blazing guitar riffing linked to the snare roll incursions. ‘Because We Are Rotten To The Core’ does ease up slightly as the short fade-in bristles with drum fill as here I felt the song was similar to old Vader material. A band with such a longevity as Sadism I did question myself with regards to referencing other death metal acts when clearly the band has pioneered death metal from Chile but I am sure you get my point.
‘Freewill Archangels’ is utterly butchering, the songs high end thrash riffing style pierces superbly and contrasts with semi-acoustic melancholy of ‘Ars Goetia’. Being slightly slower the song shifts its focus into a galloping beastly feel that again is supremely catchy. ‘Made Of Sulfur’ is the longest tune on the album at nearly five minutes, affording it a more probing approach before the blistering riff inserts itself alongside the frenetic deathrash pacing.
Technically ‘Made Of Sulfur’ is the albums last track but for the promo, and on the CD version, there are two extra bonus tracks which do sound like they were recorded during the same sessions as the album, beginning with ‘Nyctophile’ which continues to flay the listener with abrasive guitar work. Closing is ‘When The Christians Lie’ and at first I thought the promo copy had mistakenly put the same track on twice due to the overt similarity it has with ‘Nyctophile’. It does develop its own identity after a short time and continues the albums never-ending supply of riffs and violence to its conclusion.
An excellent tenth album from Sadism, one that salutes the old school methodology of death and thrash but easily capitalises on modern styles without sacrificing one iota of viciousness.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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