Review: “Under Sadistic Law” by Zadism

After a four year run, in the summer of 2024 after a demo and an EP in “Speed Metal Terrorist“, Swedish Blackened Speed Thrash quartet Maniak went their separate ways. Just fifteen months later, rising like a phoenix from the ashes and fueled by the same themes of the Occult, Death, Violence and Satanism, a pair from that band have resurfaced as a duo with new project Zadism. Guided by the spirit of the early Brazilian underground that brought us disfigured riffs, filthy production with uncompromising aggression and the savage blueprint laid down by the German Thrash Metal pioneers at the dawn of the scene, it is written that from the blackened mines of Bergslagen this duo offer a sound steeped in raw violence and fury…

A ninety two second introduction piece of classical piano and violent storms is the last thing you’d expect to begin a record like this but “Ernestine” is a classic dance macabre, setting the tone perfectly as if the Zadism were presenting The Hound of the Baskervilles. As that comes to a close “Victims of the Sadistic Whip” then flies out of the gate in Blackened Speed Metal fury in a similar fashion to recent works by bands like Sadistic Force. While it sounds like it was recorded in a cave with echo and reverb, it doesn’t actually sound as raw as it could, the drums sounding like multiple well positioned microphones have been used. The guitars and vocals are also well balanced in the mix during this one, a tune with late 1970’s and early 1980’s vibes about it. Urgent, sinister riffs and screamed vocals on the shriller side hit home with the force of a broken bottle to the guts, the restless and relentless drumming volatile enough that you know it wasn’t recorded to a click track. “Under Sacred Soil” continues with the same energy as if cut from the cloth of old school Black Metal bands who adored snot nosed Punk. The storytelling style of the vocals works incredibly well but may go unnoticed over the first few spins, the bands chosen sonic aesthetic serving as a mask at points. That of course gives the record the nostalgic energy from the tape trading days so there is a give and take there. There is a hummable melody underneath the blistering frenetic energy of “Chapel of Scum“, the message within the lyrical narrative as clear as a cold winters morning in the heart of Scandinavia. The icing on the metaphorical cake would have been a scorching solo however the band stick to pulverizing rhythms rather than adding any form of embellishment because this is clearly a strictly DIY or DIE record. “Coprophilian Nightmare” has a mid tempo introduction that serves as a warning shot before the duo go hell for leather, the rest of the song playing out at the tempo of the damned with breakneck speed riffs flying in all directions. The false ending in the final third is an nice touch, the almost tribal percussion that rises from the feedback very much the sound of a beast rising from the black depths and the screams that accompany them are those of a banshee… [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Ernestine
2. Victims of the Sadistic Whip
3. Under Sacred Soil
4. Chapel of Scum
5. Coprophilian Nightmare

“Under Sadistic Law” by Zadism is out 21st November 2025 via De:Nihil Records and Dala Destroi Records