Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Men (2007)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop Rock

Label Number: 2-43247
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 2007 Desperation Records
AllMusic Review by Matt Collar
While 2006's Barenaked Ladies Are Me was an enjoyably melodic and heartfelt album, Barenaked Ladies' 2007 companion album Barenaked Ladies Are Men bests its predecessor by throwing in just a bit more wit, sparkle, and pop. Where Are Me was low-key and mature, Are Men is a just a bit more energized and in some ways features a few more memorable hooks. Songs like "Something You'll Never Find," "Angry People," and "Down to Earth" are catchy, playful Beatles-meet-Crowded House-meet-the Cars kind of pop and should definitely appeal to longtime fans of the band. However, there are still some mature, laid-back moments including the Burt Bacharach-inflected ballad "Beautiful" and the singer/songwriterly "Half a Heart" which, while still retaining a sense of irony and wit, reveal just how skillful lead singers Steven Page and Ed Robertson have become at writing devastatingly poignant songs. Though fans of the band may appreciate the group's prolific output, the need to release two full studio albums would seem fairly dubious were it not for the generally high quality of the tracks on the two albums. In that light, though they are separate releases, taken together Barenaked Ladies Are Me and Barenaked Ladies Are Men should not only stand as a creative high point for the Canadian rockers, but a truly superb would-be double-album.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare naked, bare, naked, are men, 2007, flac,

More Info

Sodom - 'Til Death Do Us Unite (1997)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal, Hardcore Punk
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1997 GUN, BMG
*No professional reviews available for this release.

tags: sodom, til death do us unite, 1997, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Code Red (1999)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1999 Pavement Music
AllMusic Review by Steve Huey
Code Red is something of an attempt to recapture the frenzied chaos of Sodom's earlier work, and it partially succeeds. Partially, because the band's technique has improved substantially since the mid-'80s, which has made their work more accessible yet tamed a bit of the unbridled fury (some called it sloppiness) that polarized listeners into love-'em-or-hate-'em camps early on. The 1999 version of Sodom sounds strangely out of time, somewhere in between godfathers of contemporary death metal and throwbacks to underground '80s thrash. This means that Code Red isn't a stunning new statement or re-imagining of the band's sound, but it is a solid example of that sound, and at this point, that's probably all that's necessary.

tags: sodom, code red, 1999, flac,

More Info

Sodom - M-16 (2001)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 2001 Steamhammer
Reviewed by Michel Renaud for Metal Crypt.com
I am happy to announce that reports of Thrash metal's death have been greatly exaggerated. 2001 has brought killer albums by veterans Destruction and Kreator, and this new album by Sodom (celebrating their 20th anniversary!) is definitely one of the best albums this year.
Despite claims to the contrary, the album seems to be lyrically quite oriented toward the Vietnam war. The song "Napalm in the morning" even opens with one of Robert Duvall's lines in the movie "Apocalypse Now". Whether that's it or not, it doesn't matter. It's the music that counts, and let me tell you that this album stands amongst Sodom's best, if not the best of the genre, period. Aggressive from start to finish, even the cover of "Surfin' Bird" that closes the album is played at full speed and feels more like the bird is being blasted. ;) Your head will start banging by itself just a couple of seconds into most songs, most of them have killer riffs, strong vocal work, and, well, after 20 years, do I really need to praise the musicianship of this band? Didn't think so. All songs are good although the cover at the end sounds a bit out of place - still good though. The songs "Napalm in the Morning" (great opening) and "M-16" stand out here as well. This is the kind of album I hate to review: It's pretty hard to say much about such a good album, other than: Just go buy it NOW! This one goes into my top 5 so far this year and I don't think anything will displace it!
There's also a limited edition digipak with two bonus tracks.

tags: sodom, m16, m 16, m-16 album, 1995, flac,

More Info

Various Artists - Pump Up The Volume (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1990)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Rock, Grunge, Pop Rock, Hip-Hop

Label Number: MCAD-8039

.FLAC via Florenfile

.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1990 MCA Records
AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman
In a sense, Pump Up the Volume was the second in Allan Moyle's Disillusioned American Youths trilogy, released ten years after the new wave runaway drama Times Square and five years prior to the truly horrid record shop angstfest Empire Records. Like Times Square, and to a somewhat lesser extent Empire Records, Pump Up the Volume's major players are music obsessives who immerse themselves in rock groups that float away from the mainstream radar. In this case, the protagonist is pirate radio DJ Hard Harry (Christian Slater), a hyper-hormonal high-school student who takes great delight in playing the likes of Leonard Cohen and Sonic Youth for his audience of confused, angst-ridden schoolmates. The soundtrack reflects much of what is played during the movie, including Soundgarden's pre-fame "Heretic," Concrete Blonde's version of Cohen's "Everybody Knows," the Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation (U.K. Surf)," and two songs that deal with the movie's theme of censorship, Above the Law's "Freedom of Speech" and Bad Brains' (with Henry Rollins) cover of the MC5's "Kick Out the Jams." Unfortunately, Was (Not Was)' delightfully perverse "Dad I'm in Jail" is excluded, as is Nora Diniro's lusty ode to Hard Harry ("Jam me, jack me, push me, pull me," etc.). At any rate, the Pump Up the Volume soundtrack works well for those who want a decent snapshot of early-'90s alternative music. And if you're feeling nostalgic for that frustrating period of your life when you looked like Christian Slater but couldn't get any girls to pay attention to you, it works equally well.

tags: various artists, pump up the volume, music from the original motion picture soundtrack, 1990, flac,

More Info

Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop Rock

Label Number: 9 47814-2
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1992 Sire, Reprise Records
AllMusic Review by MacKenzie Wilson
Gordon picks up where the Barenaked Ladies' famous demo "The Yellow Tape" left off and moves them into majors. Their first for Reprise, this witty songbook finds the Canadian five-piece to be a clever group -- charming, but not childish, yet the Barenaked Ladies are pretty close to overstepping the boundaries of silliness. The thing that keeps them in line is their sharp harmonies. Shared vocals between guitarist Ed Robertson and Steven Page are refreshing and upbeat, especially on reworked versions of "Brian Wilson," "Be My Yoko Ono," and the eternal favorite "If I Had a $1000000 Dollars." "Hello City" and "Box Set" are slick narratives, making for album standouts with its jazz-cool blend. Other shiny moments, such as "Enid" and "Grade 9," are humorous in reflecting upon adolescence, while "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" showcases the Barenaked Ladies' more romantic side. Through all the jokes, these guys are a bunch of suckers for love and such sensitivity is a great match for their quirky musical persona. Gordon is a great introduction to the Barenaked Ladies' sweet comic relief and it's sure to be a college rock mainstay.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare, naked, gordon, 1992, flac,

More Info

Barenaked Ladies - Maroon (2000)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop Rock, Alternative Rock

Label Number: 9 47814-2
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 2000 Reprise Records
AllMusic Review by MacKenzie Wilson
Canada's favorite musical comics the Barenaked Ladies didn't get distressed by the mainstream success of their fifth album, 1998's Stunt. The single "One Week" catapulted the five-piece into the homes of TRL diehards and their self-defined cheeky pop sound captured pop music at its finest. They had only been crafting their freewheeling musical perfection since their inception in the late '80s, so the Barenaked Ladies were about due. Two years later, the boys joined forces with producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, Rolling Stones) and delivered yet another merry-making batch of pop songs on Maroon. Ed Robertson and Steven Page split vocal duties and their sparkling honesty of musicianship and friendship once again makes for a spherical delight of humor and grandeur. Barenaked Ladies might not have been distracted by their previous accolades, but Maroon hints at the band's hesitation to refrain from repetition. The lyrical rhymes are typically amusing and the musicianship is colorful and quirky, but first single "Pinch Me" doesn't feel entirely comfortable. A conservative BNL listener would be able to catch the trickling acoustics and thumping basslines, but its head-bopping, toe-tapping excitement is hauntingly similar. But never despair, Maroon does indicate the band's impeccable musical brightness and playful creativity, specifically on songs such as "Falling for the First Time" and "Conventioneers." They toy around with adult responsibility and the fear of conflict with such attractive wit, and the messages are right on. And aside from being intelligently impressive, they twist and turn inside their musical sauciness to pluck at jaunty Americana sounds ("Baby Seat") and frilly bossa nova ("Sell, Sell, Sell"). Barenaked Ladies mold blushing harmonies with loopy guitar hooks -- Maroon is simply charming. It's not outstanding, but the Barenaked Ladies do keep their self-defined whimsicality top-notch.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare, naked, maroon, 2000, flac,

More Info

Various Artists - The Doom Generation: Music From The Motion Picture (1995)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock, Industrial, Trip-Hop
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1995 American Recordings
AllMusic Review by Tom Demalon
Befitting the dark, surreal vibe of the road movie Doom Generation, the musical talent assembled for the soundtrack is decidedly weighted in acts with a gothic hue. With a good half-dozen tracks previously unavailable for consumption (particularly in the U.S. market), the album ranges from college radio stalwarts such as Curve (the throbbing, metallic-tinged "On the Wheel") and Pizzicato Five (whose delightfully breezy "Groovy Is My Name" adds a bit of variety to the collection) to the lesser-known Babyland (their moody stomp "Double Coupon" is a sleazy delight). There are more hits (Cocteau Twins' lovely "Summerblink," Jesus and Mary Chain's revved-up "Penetration") than misses (Love & Rockets' middling, ambient rocker "This Heaven," the mix of Lush's "Undertow," which borders on interminable) and cohesion to make Doom Generation's soundtrack a fine serving of modern rock for all but the most difficult-to-please listeners.

tags: various artists, the doom generation, music from the motion picture, soundtrack, ost, 1995, flac,

More Info

Profyle - Whispers In The Dark (1999) ☠

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B

Label Number: UD-53240

.FLAC via Florenfile

.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1999 Motown
*No professional reviews available for this release.

tags: profyle, profile, whispers in the dark, 1999, flac,

More Info

Down - Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow... (2002) ☠

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Sludge Metal

Label Number: 62745-2

.FLAC via Florenfile

.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

☠: Selected by Buccaneer

© 2002 Elektra Records
AllMusic Review by Brian O'Neill
"I do one thing/I do it well," Philip Anselmo hoarsely screams to start the "Symptom of the Universe"-inspired "The Man That Follows Hell," but the fact is he's sorely mistaken on one count. The erstwhile Pantera prowler does a heck of a lot more than only one thing, as evidenced by his numerous side projects, of which Down is the most prominent. As for doing it well -- not to say that the long-awaited sophomore disc is a waste of time, but Down II lacks the precision punch of NOLA. Perhaps that's the fault of the debut, which saw the supergroup supersede even the lofty expectations brought about by the pedigree, but even on its own, the second outing suffers from way too much Black Sabbath meets Black Oak (and not nearly enough Black Flag), which wouldn't in and of itself be a bad thing necessarily, except for the one-dimensional portrayal of said influences. The blame, oddly enough, doesn't belong to Anselmo. Even though the mouthpiece is the most prominent, his pipes generally show the range that has allowed the New Orleans native to reach demigod status among metal aficionados, gutturally blasting out tortured-soul lyrics that all seem to address his state of mind and body (legend has it the disc was recorded in a rural Louisiana swamp under the influence of quite a few narcotics). Pepper Keenan's shtick is a holdover from the last couple of Corrosion of Conformity discs, and except for the fact that Anselmo is a much better singer than Keenan and the material is far darker than he usually takes his main project lyrically, much of Down II could have appeared on a new Corrosion of Conformity album and few would have blinked an eye. Which means his contribution to the music is great, but a push in terms of the quality of said roughage. However, the rhythm section of Pantera bass-mate Rex Brown (who replaced Todd Strange for this album) and Jim Bower is the main failing. The thing that made Sabbath and the '70s Southern rock legends great was having prominent rhythm sections that were unique and able to stand on their own. These two are content to provide only the basic, minimal amount of contributions, and merely providing a solid backbeat is not enough to lift the disc from the doldrums. A few tracks stand out, like the almost psychedelic "Beautifully Depressed," which revels in its contradiction, and the closing "Landing on the Mountains of Meggido," a nearly eight-minute epic which is reminiscent Led Zeppelin if they were truly evil and didn't just play the part on TV. But too much of Down II is stuck in somewhat-speedier-than-stoner rock mid-tempos that all run together to form an album that doesn't go nowhere fast or somewhere slow, but just meanders without really ever starting the journey.

tags: down, down ii, down 2, a bustle in your hedgerow, 2002, flac,

More Info

Barenaked Ladies - Maybe You Should Drive (1994) ☠

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock

Label Number: 9 26956-2
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1994 Sire/Reprise Records
AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann
Barenaked Ladies are a little less interested in the quirky and comic on their second album, perhaps recognizing that They Might Be Giants have that niche covered. Instead, though, they are showing their sensitive folk-pop roots, which makes them winning, if a little wet. (XTC, anyone?) But one thing they aren't is "alternative," a matter dealt with in the chorus of the song "Alternative Girlfriend," when they sing, "There's nothing left that won't cross over." Well put, and present company included.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare, naked, maybe you should drive, 1994, flac,

More Info

Barenaked Ladies - Born On a Pirate Ship (1996) ☠

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock

Label Number: 9 46128-2
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1996 Reprise Records
AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason
Barenaked Ladies' third album, Born on a Pirate Ship, recorded during a period of personnel instability and misgivings over the band's artistic direction, is by far the Toronto group's weakest effort. The few attempts at humor in the manner of 1992's Gordon tend to sound forced, and the inclusion of reworked versions of early material like "Shoe Box," which had originally appeared on the band's 1990 demo, suggests that primary songwriters Steven Page and Ed Robertson were short of material. That said, there are a few winners amid the dross, with the wistful "The Old Apartment" and the tender Robertson ballad "When I Fall" further developing the group's ability to wring tenderness and angst out of unexpected situations. Jim Creeggan's "Spider in My Room," on the other hand, is just silly. Barenaked Ladies would finally break through to an American audience with their next release, the live sampler Rock Spectacle, which features better-sounding versions of some of this album's stronger tracks.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare, naked, born on a pirate ship, 1996, flac,

More Info

Barenaked Ladies - Stunt (1998) ☠

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock

Label Number: 9 46963-2
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1998 Reprise Records
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas ErlewineBy trying to mask their smart-ass humor in a big pop production, the Barenaked Ladies attempt to set themselves up for the big crossover that they nearly achieved with such past singles as "Be My Yoko Ono" and "Brian Wilson." Nothing on Stunt, the group's fourth studio album, is so clearly jokey (although "Alcohol" comes close), but they still rely on clever satire. That may irritate some listeners who would otherwise be won over by the group's increased musical skill. Never before has the band been able to pull off so many different styles, from jangly pop and alt-country to loungy bossa nova, so well. Musically, it could convince the doubters who have written off Barenaked Ladies as novelty pranksters, but the lyrics still will stand in the way of trad-rockers predisposed to this style of music. Of course, listeners who are a little less uptight will find Stunt to be a fine collegiate party record and one of the best albums the Barenaked Ladies have released.

tags: barenaked ladies, bare, naked, stunt, stunt album, 1998, flac,

More Info

Dig - Defenders of The Universe (1996) ☠

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Shoegaze

Label Number: RARD-11401
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1996 Radioactive
AllMusic Review by Ned Raggett
A few years on from an alternative demi-hit at the commercial peak of the early-'90s version of said style. What to do? Should you be the band Dig, you record this follow-up to the self-titled debut -- with not exactly thrilling results. Hackwith's a good producer and everything sounds radio friendly, full-bodied, and agreeably loud, but the songs are something else entirely. Defenders isn't out and out bad, but it's terribly mediocre, even comparison to the group's first album. At least that was something that, at its best, sounded pretty good on the radio in between Nirvana and Soundgarden and the like, but here everything feels much more by rote, and is generally fairly po-faced to boot. When the band approaches the same level of semi-Zen metal stomping that Jane's Addiction so easily achieved, as on the opening notes of "Detune" or "Wall Socket," then Dig make the best case for its continued existence. The occasional lightening of tone doesn't hurt -- "Song for Liars" is much more relaxed than anything on the first album and works wonders as a result, while the wittily titled "E.L.O." doesn't quite sound like said band but does have a pretty good chorus. Otherwise, it feels like snotty rock & roll too labored to work as such or vaguely poetic nothings that just sound tired and lacking compared to Chris Cornell's wry subversions or Kurt Cobain's blunt kissoffs. Everything from ukelele and theremin to Moog keyboards and banjos are thrown into the mix here and there to make things sound more adventurous than they really are. Otherwise, this is all stuff that's been heard before, potentially thrilling or involving for when one listens to it but unlikely to stick much beyond that period.

tags: dig, defenders of the faith, 1996, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Agent Orange (1989) ☠

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Buccaneer

© 1989 R/C Records
AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek
Sodom's fans have argued to the teeth about whether 1987's Persecution Mania or 1989's Agent Orange is the German metal act's definitive record. Both stand right at the devil's crossroads of thrash and death metal, and both are brutally furious assaults on the senses. That said, the case can be made for Agent Orange being slightly superior for two reasons: first, the production on this set is better, hands down, thanks in large part to Harris Johns. The band had a bigger budget and was able to, with him at the helm, use exactly the same elements to make their sound fuller, heavier, and punishing -- especially in the drum mix, which is just sheer blastbeat menace. The second reason is that given that this was the second album by the trio of bassist/vocalist Tom Angelripper, guitarist Frank Blackfire, and drummer Chris Witchhunter, there was a long period of touring between records which cemented their relationship as a band. The songwriting is tighter, the dynamics more elaborate, and everyone carries equal weight -- it would be the very last time this would happen with Sodom on record. Stand-out tracks here include the anti-bullfighting anthem "Exhibition Bout," the in-the-red speed rage of "Incest," and the exquisitely assaultive riffing in "Baptism of Fire."

tags: sodom, agent orange, 1989, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Better off Dead (1990)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1990 Steamhammer
Review by Eduardo Rivadavia for Allmusic.com
Taking into account Sodom's dwindling career prospects at the time of its release (among other problems, longtime guitar slinger Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik had only recently defected to superior competitors Kreator), Better Off Dead was a title so un-ironic, so deliciously apropos, that it left one wondering just who was in on the joke...or, what exactly was the joke...oh, never mind. Who's to say what was going through bassist/singer Tom Angelripper's mind just then, but there's no question that, when they cobbled together this LP, Sodom were swimming against a powerful current, inexorably pushing them toward terminal obscurity. And it shows, since, on the one hand, reliable thrashers like "An Eye for an Eye," "Bloodtrails," and the quite good "Shellfire Defense" stayed true to (even though falling short of) old glories; while on the other, abnormally melodic experiments like "Turn Your Head Around" and the absolutely painful "Resurrection" invaded unprecedented realms of standard rock & roll and very questionable pop-metal, respectively. (One could also question the validity of Sodom performing a surprisingly accurate cover of Thin Lizzy's "Cold Sweat," but hey, ain't nothing wrong with a little Lizzy now and then!) Amid this head-spinning mélange (and for old-school fans, even such cautious diversity smelled pretty fishy), confused purists looking for signs of their old friends Sodom gladly dug their teeth into the far more familiar moshing mania of "Tarred & Feathered," or the solid, mid-paced head-banger "The Saw Is the Law." All combine to make Better Off Dead a decidedly patchy, but far from terrible outing for the Germans -- far worse was yet to come....

tags: sodom, better off dead, 1990, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Tapping The Vein (1992)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1992 Century Media
AllMusic Review by Eduardo Rivadavia
 For all of their acknowledged contributions to the death metal genre in its late-‘80's infancy, the fact remains that Germany's Sodom were, in essence, a thrash and speed metal band, ever bound to the mindset of an earlier, pre-death generation. So it was surprising, but not altogether shocking, in the wake of their touring humiliation by Brazilian death giants Sepultura, when Sodom attempted to make the transition from thrash to death themselves with 1992's Tapping the Vein. The adoption of bottom-heavy guitars, double kick-drum work, and a throatier delivery from main Tom Angelripper was evident as soon as the manic opening tandem of "Body Parts" and "Skinned Alive" blazed past (also note their horror-based lyrics, typical of death metal). But, although credit must go to Angelripper for at least trying to re-energize his band's diminishing career fortunes, the truth remains that Tapping the Vein is a merely competent, never stunning, ever-tentative death metal album. Occasional standouts like "One Step Over the Line" and "Bullet in the Head" are pretty darn good by most standards of the time, but, like the even more memorable "Hunting Season," which borrows a number of tricks form the above mentioned Sepultura, they're clearly following trends, not setting them like in years before. Any way you slice it, though, Sodom fans could do a lot worse in terms of the group's terribly pot-holed recording output than by picking up Tapping the Vein -- there's definitely something here worth hearing.

tags: sodom, tapping the vein, 1992, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Get What You Deserve (1994)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1994 Steamhammer
AllMusic Review by Eduardo Rivadavia
Come 1994's rather dreadful Get What You Deserve album, Germany's Sodom weren't just treading creative water, they seemed to be taking a piss! Seriously, or are we to take clever ditties like "Jabba the Hutt" and "Tribute to Moby Dick" with anything but an industrial-sized, proverbial grain of salt? Except for the mildly interesting title track, and the almost convincing "Silence Is Consent," it was abundantly clear that lone remaining founding member Tom Angelripper was running through the motions on this L.P. Making matters worse, any leftover pretense of selling Sodom as a true "band," had been rendered moot by the faceless yabbos that surrounded him, this anonymous pair owning about as much on-stage charisma (never mind contributing songwriting talent) as a pack of cliff-bound lemmings. The bottom line is that Sodom had ceased having anything worth saying in the extreme metal universe at least a half-a-decade prior, making this particular release the sort of stuff for blind idolaters and soft-hearted thrash metal martyrs.

tags: sodom, get what you deserve, 1994, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Masquerade In Blood (1995)

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1995 Steamhammer
AllMusic Review by Eduardo Rivadavia
Following upon a string of underachieving albums, 1995's Masquerade in Blood was, at the time of its release, considered something of a return to form for Teutonic speed metal pioneers Sodom. Sadly, hindsight reveals that such enthusiasm was rather exaggerated, but then, those had been some pretty abysmal albums. Anyway, more than anything, Masquerade in Blood ushers in yet another attempt to modernize Sodom's post-thrash/pre-death style for the mid-1990s -- and a successful update it is, in style if not quite substance. Surely boasting the heaviest guitar crunch of Sodom's long career, the opening title track mows down eardrums with the efficiency of one of those invisible hedge-cutters (yes, that's a very silly analogy, but you get the picture). So what if frontman Tom Angelripper's vocals are generally buried in the mix because of this? Despite their fairly ambitious-sounding titles, "Fields of Honour" and the same-period Kreator-esque "Gathering of Minds" hardly reveal him as some kind of extreme metal poet ("Sodomy and Lust," anyone?). But getting back to the music (and given this reviewer's inability to analyze German-sung numbers like "Verrecke!" and "Mantelmann" for their wording, its high time we do), Sodom continually deliver trusty, if hardly overwhelming death metal in subsequent songs like "Shadow of Damnation" and "Peacemaker's Law." And the highlight, "Unwanted Youth," definitely stands out thanks to a decidedly punk rock-inspired chorus break. Sticking with the punk theme, the album concludes with a welcome cover of the Anti-Nowhere League gem "Let's Break the Law," a perfect auf wiedersehen to send the kids home with a smile. They really deserve it after withstanding such a dire listening experience.

tags: sodom, masquerade in blood, 1995, flac,

More Info

Sodom - Persecution Mania (1987) ☠

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

☠: Selected by Buccaneer

© 1987 Steamhammer
AllMusic Review by Eduardo Rivadavia
Sodom's landmark Persecution Mania stands at the very crossroads of thrash and death metal. A virtual tour de force of blinding speed and blunt force, it is also arguably the best album of Sodom's checkered career. Recorded shortly after the arrival of guitarist extraordinaire Frank Blackfire, Persecution Mania took the group's fast-as-can-be, subtlety-free, roast-every-bridge approach to a whole new level of intensity and power. With their brazen ferocity and single-minded velocity, face-ripping moshers like "Nuclear Winter," "Outbreak of Evil," and the title track may have seemed a bit one-dimensional to older metal heads at the time (though these were accorded a fitting cover of Motörhead's seminal "Iron Fist"), but it played right into the hands of the genre's ever-growing contingent of younger, more extreme fans. Even at 13 tracks, the album is so deep that the absolute classic "Sodomy and Lust" only arrives at number 11 -- now that is value for your buck. When combined with similarly audacious and controversial nuggets like "Christ Passion" and "Conjuration," there is little doubt that Persecution Mania would have made the P.M.R.C.'s most-wanted list had it been released a few years earlier. Curiously, much of the music captured here recalls the parallel advancements of fellow proto-deathsters Sepultura, with whom Sodom endured a nervously respectful relationship. So it is interesting to note how the Brazilians used these developments as a springboard to altogether greater achievements, while, for Sodom, this would be its finest hour. An interesting case study of both bands' divergent paths from thrash to death, to be sure, but one that should in no way detract from Sodom's and especially Persecution Mania's crucial contribution to this movement.

tags: sodom, persecution mania, 1987, flac,

More Info

Sodom - In The Sign of Evil/Obsessed By Cruelty (1988)

*This compilation contains the original recording of "Obsessed By Cruelty" and compiles it with the "In The Sign Of Evil" mini album.

Tracks 1-8 is "In the Sign of Evil" Tracks 9-19 is "Obsessed By Cruelty"

Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal, Black Metal
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)

© 1988 Steamhammer
*No professional reviews available for this release.

tags: sodom, in the sign of evil, obsessed by cruelty, 1988, flac,

More Info