Jon Allen has been the drummer in Sadus since its inception in 1985, along with Darren Travis, Rob Moore, and Steve Di Giorgio. A year later, the band would release their demo tape D.T.P. (Death to Posers). These sessions led directly to the inclusion of two tracks on the 1987 Raging Death compilation album. Quick to capitalize on this achievement, Sadus stuck their hands in their pockets to self-finance the debut album, pulling in Metal Church guitarist John Marshall as producer.
SDM’s Jeanne Thomas recently had the chance to sit down and talk to Jon about all things Sadus, drums, and the new record.
In 1993, Sadus continued as a trio crafting the Scott Burns-produced Elements of Anger in 1997. Di Giorgio and Jon also operated a side project, Dragonheart (later Dragonlord), with former Vicious Rumours and present-day Testament guitarist Steve Smyth.
Fast forward to March 2006, Jon Allen manned the drum kit for live work with Testament. That same month found Di Giorgio involving himself in a studio collaboration with singer Bjorn Strid of Soilwork, Terror 200, and Coldseed, Glen Alvelais from Forbidden, Testament and LD/50, and Jeremy Colson of the Steve Vai band.
In 2009, Sadus veterans Jon Allen and Steve Di Giorgio were noted as founder members of Futures End. Di Giorgio rejoined Testament in 2014 and played on their 2016 album Brotherhood of the Snake.
On November 18, 2022, Sadus announced that they had signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for the 2023 release of their new album, and on the same day, they released their first song in 16 years called “It’s the Sickness.” The band’s sixth studio album, and their first in 17 years, The Shadow Inside, was released on November 17, 2023.
Jon was featured on our 2023 Favorite Drumming Albums, which can be viewed here.
