When you think of names of metal musicians who display technical excellence on their instruments, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Yngwie Malmsteen and John Petrucci seem to be the first who get mentioned. While those guys are all great players, it’s only when you talk to people who have a lot more underground listening expertise that names like Steve DiGiorgio get mentioned. This guy, while not the biggest “name” in the business, is one of (if not THE) best bassists ever to perform metal. While you may not know his name very well, you certainly know some of the bands that he’s recorded with – Testament, Autopsy, Death, Iced Earth, to name a few.
Back in the late '80s, and bleeding into the early '90s, DiGiorgio’s original foray into the world of metal came with the band Sadus. Arguably the most technically solid thrash metal band at the time, Sadus had a decent, but under-appreciated run. Their two Roadrunner releases, Swallowed In Black and Chemical Exposure, stand as the two best albums the label released but failed to push (probably because all their money was tied up in a band called Sepultura at that point). The third Roadrunner release, A Vision Of Misery, found the band losing their thrash sound and trying to be a death metal band, and shortly after it came out, they were done for six years. DiGiorgio bailed out for Death and ultimately other projects, which put the band in a holding pattern. They returned in 1998 with the abysmal Elements Of Anger, which left most thinking that they were done for good after that.
Thankfully, another long break has found this band back with a vengeance. Out For Blood is a very strong return to thrash/death form for Sadus. More thrash than death metal, the now three-piece band (guitarist Rob Moore is no longer involved) has launched a tight, brutal assault on the senses. There are moments on this CD that stand arguably as the best in their career.
Article comments
1 - Guppusmaximus
Excellent Review... Mr. DiGiorgio is phenomonal and hardly gets the credit he deserves just on his work with Death alone. (He also played in Chuck Shuldiner's(RIP) last project Control Denied.)That CD kicked major ass!! Nevermind the fact that he worked with Sean Reinert in Death and Mr. Reinert went on to start Cynic which is an excellent progressive act. In turn, Sean also played with a bassist of Mr. DiGiorgio's caliber,Tony Choy, who played in Atheist after their bass king Roger Patterson died in a vehicle accident while they were returning from a tour.Mr. Reinert also plays with Sean Malone in Cynic who does a project called Gordian Knot whose lineup had Steve Hackett and Bill Bruford. Anyways...I got off track..It's amazing how many phenomonal musicians fly under the radar. I will definately have to make a return to Sadus with this new release. Again, Excellent Review!!