Rising from the grave with vengeance, riffs, and a brand new lineup, blackened thrash brutes Sadistic Force are back with a brand new EP, Morbid Odyssey. Short and anything but sweet, this ripper of a release is guaranteed to desecrate eardrums and souls alike, running the gamut of first wave black metal mania over the course of its brief 5 song runtime. There’s also guest appearances from members of Electrocutioner, Bewitcher, and more. We sat down with the Sadistic Force’s head hellion, James Oliver, to discuss this new release, terrorizing the masses onstage, and lyrical themes.
I’d like to start by going back to the beginning of Sadistic Force. What events led to the band’s 2020 inception, and what did you hope to achieve?
James Oliver: I basically just wanted to write a few songs and put them out to establish a new project. My main goal at the time was to take music more seriously and do things the right way by not skimping out on stuff like a professionally done band logo, etc. It seems to have worked out pretty well so far!
This latest EP, Morbid Odyssey, is the first to feature the band’s new lineup, featuring yourself on guitars and vocals, Mike Gupta on bass, and JP Campo on drums. When did this new incarnation come together and what is the current feel in the band?
JO: It came together in March of 2024. The current feel is that we’re taking the band to the next level! I think Morbid Odyssey is already probably the most successful Sadistic Force release yet in terms of streams and whatnot. I’m glad that it’s doing well. We put a ton of work into it.
As overused as the term “new and improved” is, it definitely seems to apply to not just this lineup of Sadistic Force, but the EP as a whole. The riffs are more violent, the chemistry is tighter, and even the production is more intense. Was it a conscious effort on the band’s behalf to push the extremity of past releases and lineups even further?
JO: Yes, the idea from the get-go was to be a little heavier this time around. We wanted the band’s sound to develop. For many bands, this would mean going softer and becoming more pop-oriented. We did the opposite of that.
There are no shortage of guest appearances on this EP, including Bewitcher’s Matteo Von Bewitcher, Electrocutioner’s Mark Pursino, and Hellrot’s Tony Rot. What led to their involvement on this release?
JO: I wanted to do something a little different from other bands here as well. I noticed bands having people do guest vocals on their releases, sort of like a rapper doing a feature verse. I figured it would be cool to have guest guitar solos instead. It ended up being a great decision, because all three of the guest solos are killer and really serve the songs well.
Expanding upon the last question, if you could have anybody collaborate with Sadistic Force on a song, who would it be and why?
JO: Let’s get Phil Campbell from Motörhead on a track! He’s a great player and a huge part of the legacy of one of the most important bands ever.
One thing I’ve noticed about Sadistic Force’s music is that, while the band adheres to the first wave black metal ethos, there’s a wide stylistic variety within each release. Some songs are high speed thrashers, others unrelenting black ‘n’ roll. Some even boast a crossover/hardcore feel. How important is it for you to keep listeners on the edge of their seat with such unpredictability?
JO: I think it’s very important because that sort of variety has been a key part of the Sadistic Force sound from the first release. At this point, I feel like I’ve established a signature sound, and listeners know that they can expect certain things. It’s good to throw in a curve ball every now and then. I think “Abnormal Cruelties” achieves this on the new record.
Whereas many blackened thrash acts sing exclusively about hell and metal, Sadistic Force’s music boasts lyrics touching on aspects of horror and violence. When did you first get into horror, and do you have a favorite film or book that has served as a source of inspiration?
JO: I got really serious about horror as a genre around 18. I had been into it before, but that’s when I truly immersed myself in it in a big way. As of late, I have even started publishing horror novels. These can be found by googling James Oliver Horror. It was actually a conscious effort for me to not have every song be about hell or Satan, or hating Christianity. There are a few in the catalog like that, but the horror thing is more appealing to me. It’s always hard to pick an absolute favorite anything, but I would say Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive is a big one for me. I’d go with Off Season by Jack Ketchum as far as books go. In terms of actually writing songs about a movie or a book, there’s two from the early days. “Lagoon of Doom” (this one should speak for itself) and “The Blade Itself”, inspired by a fantasy novel of the same name.
This next one might be unfair, but I must ask: Motörhead or Venom?
JO: Motörhead for sure. Venom is great, but there’s a reason we’ve released a Motörhead cover and not a Venom cover.
This November, you’re about to hit the road with fellow black-thrash barbarians, Graveripper. What can headbangers expect from this tour?
JO: Total chaos! I think it should be a really good run based on how great of a pairing it is. We all really dig Graveripper’s music. We played with them before a few years back in L.A. with the old lineups. It’s kinda neat that Graveripper is in the same position as Sadistic Force, with a new record featuring a new rhythm section. We’re going to give our all at all the shows, and we have something interesting up our sleeves as far as stagecraft goes.
Considering the rapid pace at which Sadistic Force has released music, can we expect a new full length in 2026?
JO: I wouldn’t rule it out!
The new Sadistic Force EP, Morbid Odyssey, is available now. For more information on Sadistic Force, click here.