Sadis Euphoria - Instinct Obsession

Pennsylvania's Sadis Euphoria are part of a first wave of bands signed to Willowtip Records. Two years ago, they released their debut EP, Frigid Silence Spilling, a fast-paced, crushing and grinding death metal assault. Instinct Obsession is their first full length and it's in the same vein as the EP, but as a thirteen-song full length it's not as appealing as the shorter EP. You see, there is not a lot of variety in what Sadis Euphoria do. They are more original than your typical grind band, but there's only so much extremeness you can take before it becomes redundant.

Instinct Obsession benefits from the production of Agoraphobic Nosebleed mastermind Scott Hull. From the opening track ("Hathos"), Sadis Euphoria's flaws are immediately apparent. The music is noisy, the vocals inconsistent, and the drum sound borders on poor at times. Vocalist Steve Sherer has a great screaming style, but he too often buries himself in that gurgling death metal style which is incomprehensible. There appears to be a need for the music, especially the guitars, to be busy and chaotic. Some of the noisy aspects, semi-harmonics included, distract, but then a brilliant song like "Through Our Veins" will come along and blow you away with the intricate guitar work incorporating unorthodox groove and some quieter moments.

Instinct Obsession is a decent album, you just wish Sadis Euphoria would trim some of the songs and create an album of the best, but then again that would leave us with another EP like Frigid Silence Spilling.