Review by Felix on November 18, 2025.

Until a few weeks ago, Sadistic Goatmessiah have been an unknown force to me. This status has changed and this is the kind of change that even my conservative attitude likes. Of course, it was not really essential to check out the album of another band that moves in the not clearly defined no mans land between speed, thrash and black metal. But if you only care about the essentials, you won't have any fun in life. Or are sex, good food, and listening to some competent noise makers with friends really that important? Before it becomes too philosophical, I want to get down-to-earth again. Sadistic Goatmessiah describe their style as reaper metal. That's okay, but nonsense at the same time, because I see no element in their music which justifies a unique style. But to avoid misunderstandings right from the beginning, this is no problem at all. Appetite comes with eating and listening pleasure with good music. Sadistic Goatmessiah are able to dish up some cool tunes.

"Violence" deserves the price for the most generic album title, but at least a programmatic name is not misleading. The opener "Iron Lungs (The Choirs Of Hell)" starts calmly, but it goes without saying that the intro does not characterize the song. It becomes a more and more vehement outburst where density and (naturally) violence go hand in hand. German bands like Obsessör come to my mind as well as some tracks of Blizzard. The trio with a Teutonic Jo Bench on bass celebrates sinister guitar lines, jagged thrash riffs and breaks and demonic death rattle. The vocals appear somehow over-produced. Nevertheless, they are a positive factor. Maybe the dude with the poetic pseudonym Morbid Goatpriest of Lust, Filth and Mayhem wanted to sound as evil as possible. Sometimes less is more, nevertheless, the performance is still appropriate. Only the spoken words section at the beginning of "Curse Of Eternal Winter" cannot conceal an almost comical touch. Mr Morbid-and-so-on intends to convey sublime vibrations, but this idea was not the best one during the recording process. Anyway, the song turns out to be one of the highlights of the album due to its outstanding guitar lines and some almost blast beats driven sections.

Due to the very generic approach of the band, I am surprised that they did not cover a Bathory track. But "Darkness And Evil", the closer. is no exceptional song as well. The three-piece delivers an energetic version, but who the hell can take away this song's inherent dynamic? Thus, I put my focus on the band's own compositions. "Stainless Steel" is among the best ones. Its thunderous directness is impressive, but not only this feature makes my day. The song also represents the archaic, martial and furious touch of "Violence" in a very good way. You do not believe me? A few "Ugh" from time to time bring back Tom G. Warrior's most creative and most defiant times. This alone is archaic enough, isn't it? So these goats are on a promising way. I don't know what the goats of Milking the Goatmachine think about these new goats. Maybe they want to secretly pee in the feeding trough of their competitors. But this would be stupid – there is no stylistic similarity and the German scene is big enough for more than only one goat loving unit. By the way, I hope that Sadistic Goatmessiah have not yet fully achieved the creative peak. Especially the A side leaves room for improvement, although there is no real downer. But a song like "The 7th Circle Of Hell" does not make me to listen to it again and again as well. Anyway, this (as always) very nobly designed violet vinyl from Dying Victims Produtions is worth its money. And didn't already a guy called John Lennon sing "give violence a chance"?

Rating: 7.5 out of 10