SODOM — Obsessed by Cruelty (review)

SODOM — Obsessed by Cruelty album cover Album · 1986 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Obsessed by Cruelty" is the debut full-length studio album by German thrash metal act Sodom. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in May 1986. "Obsessed by Cruelty" was actually recorded twice and therefore exists in two different versions. The first recording session was released by Metal Blade Records in the US and the second recording session was released through Steamhammer Records in Europe. Apparently the latter mentioned label was not satisfied with the original recording and refused to release it, so Sodom were forced to record the alternate version to have the album released in Europe.

Stylistically "Obsessed by Cruelty" pretty much continues the raw old school thrash/speed metal style of the "In the Sign of Evil" EP from 1984. Raw barking vocals, aggressive riffs and rhythms, and a generally dark and occult atmosphere is a valid description of the content of the album. The music style is in many ways similar to the first releases by contemporary artists and fellow countrymen in Kreator and Destruction. Influences are probably artists like Venom and early Slayer. So this is old school thrash metal with a lot of speed/traditional heavy metal elements.

"Obsessed by Cruelty" features a sound production which is decent enough for the time, but it´s not particularly well sounding. It suits the rawness of the material well, but the production doesn´t exactly enhance the power of the music. The early releases by Sodom are often mentioned among some of the seminal proto-black metal releases, but I´m not sure I hear the black metal connection on "Obsessed by Cruelty", other than the fact that the music is raw, primitive, and dark (which are descriptive features which can be applied to a lot of heavy metal). The vocals are for examle not black metal oriented at all.

Upon conclusion "Obsessed by Cruelty" is decent quality release if you enjoy early 1980s raw and dark thrash/speed metal, but personally I think it comes off a bit too primitive for a 1986 release. Consider some of the other thrash metal releases from the same year (releases by Slayer, Dark Angel, Kreator...just to mention a few), and put this one up against them, and it just pales. I know "Obsessed by Cruelty" is considered a classic teutonic thrash metal release from the 1980s but I think I´m stretching with a 3 star (60%) rating.
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