The setlist leaned heavily on tracks from The Shadow Inside, including bruisers like “Ride the Knife” and “Scorched and Burned,” but there were just enough nods to thrash staples from Chemical Exposure and Swallowed in Black to keep diehard fans satisfied. While the musicianship had its rough edges, and Travis’s vocals were an acquired taste, the unrefined power of the performance felt feral and real.
Yes, the songwriting veered toward the predictable, and their execution lacked polish, but Sadus embodied the spirit of underground metal—akin to cult icons like Anvil—where passion trumps perfection. Their earnestness struck a chord with parts of the crowd, who looked past the imperfections to embrace the primal energy on display.
Sadus didn’t steal the spotlight, but they didn’t hold back, either. Their return to Paris was a reminder that live music is often at its most compelling when it’s raw, imperfect, and fiercely driven by love for the craft.
