Obsessed by Cruelty

Obsessed by Cruelty
Studio album by
Sodom
Released7 May 1986
Recorded1985
StudioCasablanca Studio, Berlin (U.S. version)
Tonstudio Hilpoltstein, Nuremberg, West Germany (European version)
Genre
Length37:48 (U.S. version)
40:27 (European version)
LabelMetal Blade (U.S. version)
SPV/Steamhammer (European version)
Sodom chronology
In the Sign of Evil
(1985) 		Obsessed by Cruelty
(1986) 		Expurse of Sodomy
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Obsessed by Cruelty is the debut full-length studio album and the second release by German thrash metal band Sodom, released in 1986. Two different versions of the album exist, the European and the American, which were released by Steamhammer and Metal Blade Records.

Release

Two different versions of the album exist. The band had to record the album twice because their record company was not satisfied with the original result. The first version was recorded in Berlin, and was released on vinyl by Metal Blade Records in the United States in 1986. The second version was recorded in Nuremberg, and was released by Steamhammer Records in their home country of Germany in the same year. According to Tom Angelripper, the second recording is "completely different"[2] and features a bonus track "After the Deluge".

Re-releases

Obsessed by Cruelty was re-released together with In the Sign of Evil in 1988, containing the first recorded version, and as a picture vinyl in 2005 by Vinyl Maniacs.

Influence

The album had a major influence on then-developing black metal.[3][4] Mayhem founder and guitarist Euronymous described the early Sodom and Destruction releases as underrated "masterpieces of black stinking metal".[3] He also named his record label, Deathlike Silence Productions, after the album's second track.[4]

Track listing

All music composed by Sodom (Chris Witchhunter, Michael Wulf, Tom Angelripper, Uwe Christophers).

U.S. version

Side Obsessed
No.TitleLength
1."Intro"1:53
2."Deathlike Silence"5:06
3."Brandish the Sceptre"2:56
4."Proselytism Real"3:31
5."Equinox"3:32
Side Cruelty
No.TitleLength
6."Obsessed by Cruelty"5:47
7."Fall of Majesty Town"4:01
8."Nuctemeron"3:00
9."Pretenders to the Throne"2:39
10."Witchhammer"2:02
11."Volcanic Slut"3:21
Total length:37:48

German version

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Intro (The Rebirth...)"0:56
2."Deathlike Silence"5:18
3."Brandish the Sceptre"2:56
4."Proselytism Real"3:25
5."Equinox"3:36
6."After the Deluge"4:54
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."Obsessed by Cruelty"5:05
8."Fall of Majesty Town"4:04
9."Nuctemeron"3:02
10."Pretenders to the Throne"2:37
11."Witchhammer"1:36
12."Volcanic Slut"2:58
Total length:40:27

Personnel

Sodom
  • Tom Angelripper – vocals, bass
  • Destructor – guitar (except "After the Deluge")
  • Ahäthoor (Uwe Christophers) – guitar (on "After the Deluge")
  • Witchhunter – drums
Production
  • Bobby Bachinger – engineering

References

  1. ^ "Obsessed by Cruelty – Sodom". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Metal-Rules.com: Interview with Tom Angelripper of Sodom". Metal Rules. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b Eda Lahdenpera (1995). "Northern Black Metal Legends". Kill Yourself!!! (4): 44. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  4. ^ a b Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen. "The Saga of True Norwegian Black Metal". Vice. Retrieved on 19 April 2013.