Sadisture (NI) | ‘Raped By Faith’

Guttural death metal in the vintage style has always found succour in Ulster, perhaps so more than in other regions. Sadisture are the latest addition to the fold, following on the pathway to demise laid by Overoth in recent years.

It’s the band’s third demo by this stage, and so is above average, being tight, thick and meaty - but it isn’t going to light any creative fires.

Equal parts groove, blast and grunt make this an enjoyable though entirely predictable affair. Within the limited genre, they’re versatile enough - you can really hear the Cannibal Corpse (’Vile’ onward) in the noodling low string work, while at the same time it’s evident they’re taking a more relaxed, Six Feet Under kind of approach too.

Malevolent Creation seem to have been an influence, as do Vomitory, and in that regard it’s all resolutely 90s. As expected given the faith based nature of their ire, Deicide creep in too. Perhap’s though that’s just the Hoffman bros guitar Tetris, wherein one’s tempted to ask if the world hasnt heard quite enough of it the first time.

They’ve good instinct regarding tempo, never hanging round one for too long, and generally always going up a gear at the right moment. They also know when to lock in together for the stomp.

After all of that though, there isnt a great deal to say, given that it’s straight death metal with absolutely no complicating or developmental factors. As such, it tires a little. They need more in their music than riffs - and at present that’s all there is.

They cite Morbid Angel as an influence: perhaps revisiting some of their classics might give them the fire and conviction they need to lift themselves out of the quagmire of DM also rans… before they get stuck there.

Ciaran Tracey ::: 14/12/09