Nader Sadek, The Malefic: Chapter III

So, Nader Sadek is the brainchild of a man by the same name, yet he doesn’t perform in the band? I suppose that works. At least for the most part the latest EP, The Malefic Chapter III, from the “band” displays solid musicianship and polished delivery.

Each release by Nader Sadek sees the man behind the scenes write and compose all of the material and hire key members to translate it into, what is this time around, bludgeoning death metal with a technical and lightly progressive flare. For the most part, those hired guns are comprised of Flo Mounier on drums, Cattle Decapitation’s Travis Ryan on growls, bassist Martin Rygiel (of Decapitated fame) and Rune Eriksen on guitars, but a variety of other musicians fill in on each track.

EP opener, “Deformation By Incision,” not only sets the tone with impressive drum work and Ryan’s guttural utterances, but also features Death’s Bobby Koelble on lead guitars and Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) on bass. The song is full and unrelenting in its brutalizing drive through grind, chunky death metal and progressive flourishes. “Carrion Whispers” is equally pummeling with more outstanding drum work from Mounier. It also includes Koelble on lead guitar’s and Cryptopsy’s Olivier Pinard on bass.

Sepultura’s Andreas Kisser appears on the second half of the EP in tracks “Entropy Eternal” and “Descent.” His presence doesn’t change the overall tone of the release, but it serves as a nice change of pace with a thrashier sound to the driving death metal of the former. The latter, however, features a much slower presentation as the band methodically works through the track with an underlying melody and more dramatic atmosphere.

I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not, but the last two songs also feel a bit thinner, production-wise. Regardless they round out the EP quite well. There’s plenty on offer here and it seems pretty apparent that Sadek’s vision has been fulfilled by the myriad of folks he has invited into this devastating foray.