Sodom
Epitome of Torture
SPV/Steamhammer
2013
Sodom is, without any doubt, one of the top thrash metal bands of Europe. Along with Kreator, Destruction, Sabbat, Tankard and some others that I can’t remember now, they have delivered some truly great and influential albums to the thrash metal scene globally. Venom could easily have been in the category above but they also influenced black metal later and that’s a whole different story. Surely, their early “thrash metal” played a major role to the thrash metal movement as well.
Nevertheless, Sodom, after the mid-90s, and more likely after “Tapping the Vein”, took a downside on their career. Surely, they had some strong songs on their 90s & 00s releases but none of those albums could be compared to the band’s 80s/early 90s works. Unfortunately, “Epitome of Torture” is no exception to that. There are some nice riffs here, a few good ideas but overall it’s one of the same predictable Sodom albums. It’s like they have a “secret dull recipe” or what. This album also presents the band’s new drummer, Makka (Everflow, ex-Voodoocult, ex-Despair). By the way, there’s something about the drums sound that I do not quite fancy but I can’t spot what’s exactly. The production is fine but not huge whatsoever.
“Epitome of Torture” is a release for the band’s die-hard fans only. It has nothing classy so as to “recruit” guys from the new thrash metal generation. Now, after Jeff Hanneman’s loss, the thrash metal scene lost a lot more of its already gone shine and power. Slayer are “gone” forever. Mostly all of the other big thrash metal bands seem to be in a “coma”, so what’s gonna be next? Thrash metal is on the edge…
Nevertheless, Sodom, after the mid-90s, and more likely after “Tapping the Vein”, took a downside on their career. Surely, they had some strong songs on their 90s & 00s releases but none of those albums could be compared to the band’s 80s/early 90s works. Unfortunately, “Epitome of Torture” is no exception to that. There are some nice riffs here, a few good ideas but overall it’s one of the same predictable Sodom albums. It’s like they have a “secret dull recipe” or what. This album also presents the band’s new drummer, Makka (Everflow, ex-Voodoocult, ex-Despair). By the way, there’s something about the drums sound that I do not quite fancy but I can’t spot what’s exactly. The production is fine but not huge whatsoever.
“Epitome of Torture” is a release for the band’s die-hard fans only. It has nothing classy so as to “recruit” guys from the new thrash metal generation. Now, after Jeff Hanneman’s loss, the thrash metal scene lost a lot more of its already gone shine and power. Slayer are “gone” forever. Mostly all of the other big thrash metal bands seem to be in a “coma”, so what’s gonna be next? Thrash metal is on the edge…