Artist: SODOM
Album: PERSECUTION MANIA (CD)

Release date: 1987
EAN/UPS: 4001617750926
Media type: CD

Persecution Mania is the second album by Sodom. The album marked a drastic change of sound from proto-black metal to thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity. The album also bore similarity to the music of fellow German bands such as Destruction and Kreator, and the term "Teutonic" thrash was coined from this.

Despite what the cover may imply, the lyrical themes of the album are centred more around politics and war than religion. This is largely due to the entry of guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Godznik, who brought new songwriting aspects to the band that gave them a much more organized and clearer sound, as well as help Sodom carve a lyrical niche that it still practices to this day. The outro guitar lead in track 9, "Bombenhagel", is the German national anthem, Das Lied der Deutschen.

TRACKLIST:

1."Nuclear Winter" – 5:26
2."Electrocution" – 3:26
3."Iron Fist" – 2:45 (Motцrhead Cover)
4."Persecution Mania" – 3:40
5."Enchanted Land" – 4:01
6."Procession to Golgotha" – 2:01
7."Christ Passion" – 6:13
8."Conjuration" – 3:44
9."Bombenhagel" – 5:11

The European CD release (Cat.-No. SPV 85-7509) has a rerecording of "Outbreak of Evil" and the Expurse of Sodomy EP as bonus tracks:

10."Outbreak of Evil" (3:32)
11."Sodomy & Lust" (5:14)
12."The Conqueror" (3:29)
13."My Atonement" (6:05)

LINE-UP:

Tom Angelripper - Vocals/Bass
Frank Blackfire - Guitars
Chris Witchhunter - Drums