Review Summary: All killer no filler: Saidan does not disappoint.
Saidan is a rather inventive and distinctive band in the black metal genre today, not only for its interesting thematic concept (Japanese horror stories) but also for its style (heavily punk-influenced, vibrant, uplifting melodies). Roughly two years have passed since their previous album, yet the Nashville duo has not been idle in the meantime. Their latest creation,
Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity, is a bold and qualitatively outstanding album — much like its predecessor,
Onryō II: Her Spirit Eternal, it stands out significantly in its field.
Has Saidan's style changed? Partially, yes! Fortunately, the band has retained and perfected their tried-and-true combination of punkish, cheerful, major chord-rich riffs, accompanying synthesizers, and energetic but straightforward drumming. The stylistic change can be found in certain details of the album, such as the opening track, or in "Visual Kill", where bouncy, true old-school thrash metal riffs make an appearance (especially in the latter track, this genre turn is very memorable). But that's not all; in their latest release, Saidan also has made some unexpected forays into classic heavy metal and Led Zeppelin-esque rock. The first noticeable moment of this experimentation can be heard in the second half of the track "Sick Abducted Purity", which features a bombastic guitar solo that Jimmy Page himself would be proud of. The Led Zeppelin vibe is further reinforced by the album's short interlude piece, "Seraphic Lullaby", which serves as a "mini Stairway To Heaven" amidst the endless sea of riffs. Overall,
Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity delivers what makes Saidan so likable: a refreshing blend of black metal and punk in the form of a highly melodic and exciting album... with a little extra!
