SODOM - Obsessed By Cruelty
| Type: | Full length |
| Release date: | May, 1986 |
| Lineup: | - Tom Angelripper (Bass, Vocals) - Destructor (Guitars) - Chris Witchhunter (Drums) |
Track list |
|
|---|---|
| 1. Intro (The Rebirth...) | 01:54 (instrumental) |
| 2. Deathlike Silence | 03:59 |
| 3. Brandish the Sceptre | 02:56 |
| 4. Proselytism Real | 03:31 |
| 5. Equinox | 03:32 |
| 6. Obsessed by Cruelty | 05:47 |
| 7. Fall of Majesty Town | 01:02 |
| 8. Nuctemeron | 03:00 |
| 9. Pretenders to the Throne | 02:39 |
| 10. Witchhammer | 02:05 |
| 11. Volcanic Slut | 03:21 |
| Total time: | 37:52 |
Deadly, cold and grey
Important note: this is the first recorded version of the LP (with Destructor playing the guitars).
To begin with: Sodoms 1986 recorded "Deathlike Silence" LP features a unique sound and ambience.
Every instrument sounds damn solid and evil and the whole arrangement creates an intense, blasphemous Black/Thrash Metal environment.
Witchhunter delivers an absolutely great,
wide ranged and unique drumming, playing a lot of nice fills and drum solos within the songs.
Overall the drum setup and appearance in the album is simply awesome.
Probably the best and most unique drumming, featured in a Sodom album.
Angelrippers vocals are raspy, slightly guttural, raw and possessed.
Destructor delivers a solid guitar work.
They feature mostly the Black Metal typical, repeating riffs and the chaotic guitar solos fit well for the songs.
Some songs like "Volcanic Slut" and "Fall Of A Majesty Town" offer great instrumental openings and introductions.
While doing so, the songs build up and develop there ambience.
Also often, the whole blasphemous instrumental layout kicks in after a short drum roll or guitar intro riff (f.e. Brandish The Sceptre ).
The guitars start to shred, the drums emerge into a fast, aggressive 4/4 tact, and Angelripper spits out like a demon, fast and ugly, his blasphemous vocals.
Songs like "Obsessed By Cruelty" deliver a well done change between slow, doom parts and fast, shredding parts.
All over there is no bad song on the album, They are all good and enjoyable,
and they all fit well together. This way "Obsessed By Cruelty" creates a unique sound.
Outlining the structures of the album:
Guitar and drum intros, followed by destructive, straight and very fast thrashing parts,
which often feature at some point a chaotic guitar solo, while Angelripper delivers fast, blasphemous vocals (also adding sometimes shouts and screams).
And finally everything is backed up with solid bass guitar play by him.
Final conclusion:
Do not expect any melodic stuff here. This album delivers pure old school "in your face" Black/Thrash metal at its best.
The production and mixing is solid, nothing negative to mention here.
"Obsessed By Cruelty" is to me an important, unique and inspiring Black/Trash Album of the 1980's.
Favourite Songs: Brandish The Sceptre, Equinox, Obsessed By Cruelty