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Rating: Ninth studio album for the amusing pack of loose dogs led by the good "Onkel" Tom Angelripper, also known as Sodom. Recorded with the guidance of the good Harris Johns, and with a cover art that truly sucks, it might be misleading at first listen: the Teutonic trio, in fact, has sufficiently changed sound direction compared to the disappointing "Masquerade in Blood," dated 1995. Additionally, the lineup has changed: the criminal Strahli has been replaced by Bernemann, while behind the drums sits the cartoonish Bobby Schottkowsky.
Let's start by saying that this album is not a masterpiece, but it really could have been one; it indeed contains exceptional songs, which we will now analyze: "Frozen Screams": the opener of the CD, it presents itself as a somewhat brisk track, with a thrash flow that is absolutely not extreme but enjoyable. It's an unusual piece for Sodom, perhaps the first of its kind. "Fuck The Police": the second track, it leans on a solid riff by the amusing Bernemann. The headbanging starts automatically, and the guitar solo after the breakdown is exceptional, thrilling. This track also spawned a music video, which, though rather brutal, is artistically significant.
"Gisela": a rowdy song, sung in German and dedicated to this woman, who I really don't know who she is, features a memorable chorus and a catchy flow, with great drumming. "Hazy Shade of Winter": a cover of Paul Simon, obviously weighed down appropriately, features an unstoppable pace until the break, vaguely melancholic. With this song, the good Tom demonstrates his ability to touch people's hearts, gently brushing the sensitive chord of the listeners with his tiny hand.
"Schwerter Zu Pflugscharen": memorable track, takes its title from a communist propaganda slogan. The opening arpeggio is thrilling, and the vocals in German give a strange verve to everything. The lyrics talk about the Holocaust, so much so that at one point you can hear a speech by Hitler played in reverse. MASTERPIECE. "Hey, Hey, Hey Rock n' Roll Star": this track alone is worth the price of the album. It opens with a drum intro, on which the bass and guitar then weave in. The lyrics talk about the desire to break into the rock world, that irrepressible desire to have rivers of beer and scantily clad women always available at any hour, and the accompaniment reflects all of this, providing incredible energy and culminating in a great solo by Bernemann after the second verse. The solo following the break is by Harris Johns, who wanted to leave his mark on this milestone.
But now let's move on to the painful notes: this album is too dispersive! Indeed, it is difficult to give your best for 15 pieces, and several of them (Hanging Judge, Politoximaniac, and others) are either fillers or sound incomplete, makeshift. In short, what to say? If this had been composed of 8 or 9 tracks, it would have been perfect, especially because the production is clear, excellent for the genre. The dear Tom wanted to overdo it, stuffing it with things that shouldn't have been there. Fortunately, he will recover in 1999 with the violent Code Red.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Fuck the Police (03:26)
New age rebellion - anarchy
Intoxicated with injustice of law
Sneaking lifes - mental decay
Practice subversive dirty deeds
No acts of grace - stand up and fight
You are their slave but never questioned why
Born on your knees - don't give a shit
You are remote controlled but who is to blame
Fuck the police
Blaze of anger - deaf and blind
The enemy that overshadows us all
Out of control - disrotted minds
The final judgement and the final day will come
Too much pressure - too much power
Until the point of no return
Interwar period - martial games
To find out
What they try to ignore
Eternal lies - vision of change
When the dreams of freedom awake
Methods of greed - bleeding hearts
An easy target for the one with the gun
Empty promises - better left unsaid
Illusions shattered by mendacity and hate
Supremacy - hungry to kill
No more effectual fervent supplication
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