01	Nadir						02:13
	02	Breathin' Cancer						07:23
	03	Enslaver Of Lies						05:35
	04	Sometimes They Come Back						06:24
	05	Hell In Myself						05:32
	06	Desert Divinities						05:04
	07	Sadist						04:19
	08	Happiness 'N' Sorrow						06:41
	09	Dreaming Deformities 2000 (bonus)						04:33
	10	Musicians Against Yuppies 2000 (bonus)						04:11

Revolutionary... - 90%
Written by JOB on March 10th, 2006

Ah, Sadist. As if the editor of Tartarean Desire had read my thoughts registering my interest in this band, knowing I'm searching for this album, while I, nai"ve I, did not have a clue this album has been re-released, now spinning in my old, old, CD player.

The label labels (no pun intended) this album as technical death thrash metal, I swear. I have never known what 'technical' stands for in music. I do know that 'technical' is something to do with machinery, hinges, charts and diagrams. 'Technical' has nothing to do with music. If anything, this is progressive metal, but why so? Why are both debut and Sadist's sophomore i.e. 'Tribe' regarded as such?

Progressive metal (or anything else progressive in music, for that matter) equals to unexpected; unexpected turns in the plot, unexpected ideas, ups and downs, surprise upon surprise which are eventually a part of the ghost ride through the musician's vision of the music.
'Above the light' is a ghost ride, if there ever was one; it employs ideas that were nothing short of revolutionary in those times, thirteen years ago, when the original album had seen the light of day. 'Above the light' in 1993 indeed progressed and transcended above anything extreme metal had offered or had known. It was the ballerina of death and thrash metal, composing unexpected, wonderful tunes of aggression and compassion both on the same breath, employing synths and theatrics without being gay (in both senses) and harnessing extreme metal as its playground on which it could fearlessly experiment with a wide spectrum of sounds and approaches ranging from cheesy, sweet tunes, to apocalyptic ones, to horror-movie soundtracks to sonic morbidity.

Sadist has produced, more than a decade ago, an album which not only hasn't become stale or anachronistic, but until this very day is nothing short of breath-taking, exciting and surprising every passing moment. Cliche's put aside, any fan-boy attitude forgotten for just a couple of seconds only for the sake of an as unbiased review as possible, this album – together with Sadist's sophomore 'Tribe' – is progression made flesh and a lesson in musicianship.
I'm lucky enough to befallen the honor to review a true masterpiece of metal art in a true sense and of the highest caliber. You will not believe what those Italians are/were capable of, so many years ago, things that still inspire, being revered, and at least should stand as a landmark for bands to learn and be inspired by the masters of progressive death/thrash/ whatnot metal...

Now the re-release comes with two bonus tracks recorded in the year 2000 (what the fuck for? Nobody should touch a perfect album such as this) and with a slightly better production (that does only good to this recording, I guess, as there are many nuances important enough to be heard with a sharp, rewarding sound). Highly recommended for any Atheist, later-day Death and... Sadist fans...

Originally written for: http://www.tartareandesire.com