Sadist - Above The Light (1993)

As far as befuddling techno-death metal goes, Sadist are up their with the most cranky. Hailing from Italy, these guys really know how to disorientate, their jarring, multi-layered brand of death metal a real eye and ear opener - the three piece not afraid to throw in all manner of experimentation, whether its floating piano, classic '80s metal, sadistic sounding black metal, mid-paced thrash, old school death metal, jazzy intricacies, or progressive rock. It's all in here, 'Above The Light' being a true well-stirred cauldron of emotion - Andy Marchini's vocal rasps are more of a throaty black metal gurgle, but boy do these guys know how to play, somehow drawing the listener in with accessible symphonies and then alienating with those discordant rhythms. 'Above The Light' is one of those cult records that all thrash and death metal fans need to own - especially if you've a taste for the more complex styles of extreme metal, Sadist inhabit the same inhospitable void as Atheist, Oblivion, Anacrusis, et al, but sound like none of these bands. Another five albums would follow after this, none of them sounding similar, but I'd recommend you start here.
8/10