Sod 'em
This is an interesting release from the Sodom camp. 23 years after the release of their E.P, 'In The Sign Of Evil', comes an extended version of that E.P 'The Final Sign Of Evil'. Five songs laced the original E.P and when their current record company, SPV (who don't get enough credit when it comes to developing metal worldwide), asked vocalist Tom Angel Ripper if there were any ideas left over from that early era. Guitarist at the time, Grave Violator, admitted he had a tape full of songs, fragments of tunes and old recording sessions. Although Grave Violator and 'In The Sign Of Evil' drummer Chris Witchhunter are no longer members of Sodom, the trio have come together to re-record the original E.P and add seven bonus tracks to make a complete album.
Digging out old tunes is always a miss and hit affair (usually miss), but I feel in Sodom's case this is an excellent idea. Back in 1984 the metal scene was very different, there was less money and sub genres such as thrash, black and death metal weren't established. The fact that only five songs were originally released owes much to the band's lack of professionalism at the time and the record label's faith (or lack of) in their extreme music as it does to time and money. The knowledge that 'In The Sign Of Evil' was originally meant to be a long player makes 'The Final Sign Of Evil' quite a collector's piece for the Sodom fan and, if truth be told, for any fan of black/death metal who is interested in the sub-genre's roots. Along with Venom and Bathory, Sodom, and 'In The Sign Of Evil' have been heralded as one black metal's early pioneers and their legacy cannot be understated.
With all the greatest intentions and respect for Sodom's legacy taken into account, I can only see this updated version as a huge let down. Apart from the incredibly crass front cover of a bare chested muscle bound red hooded executioner holding a bloodied axe whilst standing over a severed head on a chopping block, the album sounds like it's been knocked up in a weekend for a couple of quid on a fostex four-track recorder. Perhaps Sodom were going for that authentic rubbish early 80's cheap, badly mixed production, and if this was the case then the band have nailed it. Not only does it sound terrible but Mr Witchhunter obviously played the album without a click track because the music goes out of time with frightening regularity.
On initial listen I did think it was a re-mastered version of the original music, which would have been explainable, and I was horrified to learn the whole project was re-recorded. For such a bad production in this day and age with easy access to modern recording techniques is unforgivable. It causes the songs to become an incoherent din with the stringed instruments just adding background fuzz to the domineering drums and overly loud growling of Mr Angelripper. 'Witching Metal' still sounds just as classy, but in regards to the new additions it's difficult to tell whether they're any good. Hopefully the ideas will eventually break through the dreadful sonics but they would require many listens before this would happen, and it all depends on how long you can withstand listening to something this amateurish.
As an idea it had the ability to appeal to every Sodom/extreme metal fan and could be an essential purchase for that reason alone, but after listening to the execution of it I can only say they should've done better. It certainly captures that 80's feel but in the wrong way. It's a good collector's item, but those who aren't part of the Sodom army then this is best avoided.