Illusions

Althought I'm implying that this album is largely influenced by Kreator's pioneering sophomore album (which it is), this album is still very unique. Building off Kreator's Extreme Agression (no pun intended), and adding some death metal to it's sound, Sadus had a sound of their own. I would even say that Sadus's debut sounds far more "deathly" than the band death at this point. Neither Scream Bloody Gore, or Leprosy are anywhere near as extreme as this, and yet both those albums are countinually praised as being instumental in the creation of the death metal genere, while this gem, which once again shows many traits of death metal, gets little to nothing. In my oppinion, it is false to call this merely an extreme thrash metal album as many do. From the several blastbeats, to the numerous early death metal riffs, it is evident that Sadus was not merely thrash, and was one of the bands who helped the genere progress, and evolve into death metal. However, traces of Sadus's thrash influences, mainly Kreator, can still be heard., which keeps this in the death/thrash subgenre, and not full death metal.

One of the most obvious indications of their roots is Darren Travis's Shrieking, banshee like vocals, which are very similar indeed to Mille Petrozza. Not quite like Tom Araya's simple shouts, like many claim. this is in stark contrast to the gutteral, death growls found in full death metal from this period. Also, the band's tendency to go "full speed ahead", which is infact a true feature of thrash, and different from the tempo changes, that have become associated with full death metal.

On this album, they didnt realy focus as much on technicality, as they did on their secound album, but hints of Sadus's outstanding technical albilities can still be heard. Just like Pleasure to Kill, Illusions shows thrash streched to its absolute limit in terms of speed and agression, and I believe that in 1988, this was America's best answers to the Teutonic scene, which up to this point had completely outclassed American bands (with the exception of Dark Angel, Viking, Vio-lence, Incubus, Morbid Saint, and only the very fastest material from Slayer) in the speed category. For once, America show that they to can thrash with brutal intensity, and wernt just restrained, overly melodic and soft, like a certain band in the bay area, and I'm sure you know who im talking about. And despite being very chaotic ,this is far more technical and competent that anything from Slayer or Metallica. Slayer's riffs sound a bit more stripped down, much more polished and slightly slower by comparrison, making those who swear Sadus are Slayer ripp-offs sound very ignorant. From the vocal style, to the riffs, and drumming displayed here, there are no similarities between the two bands. Most of the songs are short blasts played at 310+bpm, something Slayer could never acheive.

The bass on this album really makes it stick out from most others of this period. As we all know (hopefully),Steve DiGiorgio is a beast at the Bass, and Thunder of his fretless base can clearly be heard amongst the fury and blinding speed of the other intruments, which gives this album (and this band for that matter) a distinct, unique sound. All of the talent he showed with the more technical works of death are hear, and one song even has a bass solo.

Many people however, fail to realize this bands talent, and use the fact that they are way more straight forward than most, to argue that they are primative. Well, I say The fact that Sadus is even capable of palying as fast, and as technical as they do only shows how unique, and superior this band is. Sadly, they dont get half the credit they deserve ,and many bands that are inferior to this one get much more recognition. To me, this is a crime. This and Incubus's serpent temptation are without a doubt my favorite albums of all time The masterpiece that is Illusions remains one of the most brutal albums of the 80's, full of semi-technical riffs and a fury that only Sadus can deliver. Highly recomended for those who like to hear to very orgins of death metal. You are hardly a thrasher if you dont own this album, so GET IT!!!!!! Or, certain death awaits you!