SADUS — Illusions (Chemical Exposure) (review)

SADUS — Illusions (Chemical Exposure) album cover Album · 1988 · Technical Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Illusions" is the debut full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Sadus. The album was originally released on vinyl through Sadus Records in 1988. It was re-issued on CD in 1991 through Roadrunner Records, but with a different cover artwork and the title "Chemical Exposure". So it´s the same album released under two different titles and featuring two different cover artworks.

Sadus have always had a highly original sound and already on this debut album we´re subjected to their distinct sounding technical death/thrash metal. The rabid dog sneer of Darren Travis, the frantic aggressive compositions, the "loud in the mix" and fast paced bass playing by Steve DiGiorgio and the fast paced guitar riffing. It´s all there and accounted for. At 29:11 minutes "Illusions" is one short and aggressive release and considering that it was released in 1988, it´s actually unusually aggressive. Tracks like "Certain Death" and "Fight Or Die" are positively full of fierce aggression but the same can be said about the rest of the material. Therein lies a bit of an issue though as it also means that the material is slightly one-dimensional and the tracks are hard to tell apart.

...the fact that the sound production is slightly less powerful than it could have been (it´s pretty raw and unpolished which suits the music fine though) is also a slight issue. Overall "Illusions" is however quite the enjoyable release and a promising start to Sadus career. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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