NADER SADEK — In the Flesh (review)

Album · 2011 · Death Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-07-20
J-Man

Nader Sadek is a rather interesting project. Consisting of the Egyptian-born, but New York-based, conceptual artist of the same name, as well as Steve Tucker (ex-Morbid Angel), Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), and Rune Eriksen (Ava Inferi and ex-Mayhem), this band can be considered a "supergroup" of sorts. Nader Sadek is known for utilizing other artistic medium such as sculpting, and this project is supposedly his first venture into the world of recorded music, seeing that he composed much of In The Flesh, as well as providing the lyrical concepts. The lyrics here are actually quite interesting, and deal with mankind's dependence on petroleum and how this can lead to self-destruction due to the society's greedy ways. Topics like this aren't discussed often enough in death metal, and it's great to see that Nader Sadek created an interesting and unique concept for this debut effort. In The Flesh isn't without its flaws, but it's a generally exceptional effort that should satisfy anyone who enjoys old school death metal with a modern edge. In the wake of the highly controversial return of Morbid Angel, fans seeking something from the band's alumni that's actually worth listening to should definitely give this solid observation a spin!

The music here is old school death metal with black metal edges and the occasional melodic touch. In The Flesh is a rather eclectic release, though, so expect punishing technicality, a few groovy riffs, and some progressive tendencies here. Quality-wise, the music ranges from very good to excellent. There are only a handful of really mind-blowing moments that truly strike me as "special", but they are numerous enough to keep In The Flesh from ever reaching mediocrity. The musicianship, as expected from these veterans, is chock-full of well-played technicalities and extremely impressive throughout the album's full duration. These guys are considered professionals for a reason, and the complex drum patterns and blazing guitar solos just reek with class. Steve Tucker's vocals sound a bit too over-processed at times, but he generally comes across as very powerful and commanding. The production, courtesy of Nader Sadek, is also very professional and powerful - just as it should be. My only major complaint here is that In The Flesh is a very short album, and is over in just a half hour. A few more tracks would've been greatly beneficial here, even if quality is still ultimately more important than quantity... and there is plenty of quality here!

So all in all, In The Flesh is a very successful release from Nader Sadek that should satisfy anybody who enjoys death metal on the more eclectic side. I would've liked a little less vocal processing and a longer album duration, but neither of those things are major hindrances to the overall quality of the album. Every song here is memorable and well-crafted, and that's ultimately what matters most. 3.5 stars and a warm recommendation are well-deserved for this debut offering from Nader Sadek. Anyone who, like me, was sorely disappointed by the new Morbid Angel album may want to get their spirits lifted with this high-quality death metal effort.

more than 2 years ago
Permalink
Report #248448

Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer

Please login to post a shout

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I think it's a very good death metal release - a nice blend of old and new school.

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks Jonas! :-) It's not flawless, but it's a damn good (and very original) death metal album that I'd certainly recommend hearing. I really hope this doesn't turn out to be a one-off project without a followup.