Review of Sadistic Ritual - "Edge of the Knife" E.P.

INDEPENDENT INSANITY

By: Geoff Teach

Wicked, lethal thrash metal is alive and well in the Deep South of the good old U.S. of A. Storming out of Atlanta, Georgia with their debut E.P., Edge of the Knife (Unspeakable Axe Records), Sadistic Ritual are out for blood and taking no prisoners on this raucous, six-track release. Blending classic thrash with black and crossover, Sadistic Ritual’s sound is loud, aggressive, and downright impressive.

Sounding most similar to Toxic Holocaust, Sadistic Ritual’s Edge of the Knife is all killer, no filler. From start to finish, this E.P. delivers the goods. The starter, “Merciless Retribution”, introduces you to the quartet’s punishing riffs and fearless exploration of syncopation and rhythm. Next, “Funeral Raid” is an all-out thrash assault, and “Executioner” pounds and pulsates with apocalyptic fury.

Finishing out the offering, the back half of the album seals the deal stronger than the crushing blow of an axe with “Restless Dead”, “Edge of the Knife” (my personal favorite), and “Morbid Genocide”. Honestly, I can’t find a flaw with anything on this tumultuous effort. Sadistic Ritual have somehow corralled everything that’s great about black, crossover, and thrash metal, controlled the chaos, chewed it up, and spit it back out into delectable songs straight from the edge of mayhem. I’m flabbergasted in every good way possible.

I don’t even have a rating system, but if I did, I’d give Sadistic Ritual’s Edge of the Knife a resounding 10 out of 10. If you’re into having your ears melted and your neck snapped, contact this band right fucking now and get your hands on a copy of this epic E.P. in any format you can.

Keep it Metal! \m/ \m/

To check out the title track from Edge of the Knife, just press play below!