Review Summary: If you want to witness how chemistry between band members and sheer creative spirit can suffice for a hell of a live album then purchase this!
This is Sodom's first live album.
Persecution Mania was when Sodom began to hone their own sound which was less bestial, the pronunciation more polished and changes of pace were not so technically allocated.
Despite the turn of music in
Persecution Mania, it seems that Sodom was still dealing with black-metal,
Tom Angelripper had to tap into that "system" so to speak but now he found it necessary to put an end to the bands black metal ways and this was the way to do it:
Persecution Mania followed by a double-live album!
Mortal Way of Live is the first of its kind in thrash, they toasted everyone else with this record, but many thought was a bit too early for this because they just had 2 Ep's and 2 albums out at that time but the timing couldn't be any more perfect. With a name like Sodom its crazy about the different things you can sing about; incest, lust , sodomy, murder, violence, this live album is one big evil package of all that along with its silly satanic lyrics. In
Persecution Mania war was their new topic, a bit like beer for Tankard: delusions of persecution in Vietnam on "Persecution Mania," Nuclear War in "Nuclear Winter" and the bombing of civilians in "Bombenhagel" ... Gradually, Sodom builds an identity which was seen in
Persecution Mania and
Agent Orange with the help of this live album.
The classics "Sodomy and Lust" and "Nuclear Winter" are on here. Of course one of my personal best "Outbreak of Evil" is here too. These versions shine with their variety, a bit different from the studio versions.
At this time, the band still frequented rooms of average size. The heat must have been pretty bad in the small hall they were playing in but you can hear the crowd's enthusiasm & the intensity of hearing their favorite band play. The crowd sings along on many songs and chants of "Sodom" can be heard several times.
There's noticeably less tremolo this time round, some inventive drum fills too but pretty sloppy tempo shifts. The bass is audible.
Pros:
Not bad production for an 80's live album.
Tom Angelripper's vocals and pronunciation are pretty good throughout.
Very good music especially: Nuclear Winter, Iron Fist, Persecution Mania, Sodomy And Lust, everything
Cons:
Bad tempo shifts (but it's excusable because its live)
Some who are used to better production may not like the audio quality.
4/5
If you want to witness how chemistry between band members and sheer creative spirit can suffice for a hell of a live album then purchase this!
