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Sodomizer > The Dead Shall Rise to Kill > Reviews
Sodomizer - The Dead Shall Rise to Kill

Pure fucking metal. - 85%

SouthofHeaven11, February 24th, 2008

Usually sometime around now, any review while state how much “X” band go outside the confines of modern metal and will in some way cause some sort of global revolution that will ensnare every youth to wear their t-shirts and praise their work. Well, not really, because Sodomizer don't exactly give you anything new. In fact, they’re not unique at all; they just kick gratuitous amounts of ass.

Sodomizer hail from Brazil, a country dripping in foul, untamed metal that seems to be making an impact in the community as of late. As with most Brazilian thrash acts, Sodomizer is dirtier (in the sense of their black metal roots) than a crack head sleeping in a Queens subway station bathroom, but this wouldn’t be apparent from the first opening minutes of the leading track, “Blessed by the Virus of Death”. Opening with monk-like chanting, you think you’d be listening to your stereotypical black metal band from the top-quality producer of said genre’s bands, America (yes that was a joke). It isn’t till about 2-minutes into the actual song that it drops its balls faster than a 12-year old at strip club. Speed, black, thrash, and death metal, all represented by a magnitude of ferocious palm-muted riff salvos and maniacal black metal vocals, sampled straight from Hell with Satan’s stamp of approval. Quite simply, it doesn’t get any metal-er (it’s now a word) than this.

In the world of Sodomizer, the cheesier the better, since almost every song uses some sort of B-horror movie sample, chant, or in the case of “Sexual Beast”, sounds of orgasms. “The Dead Shall Rise to Kill” should come with a sticker warning of the severe cases of nostalgia that will occur from listening to this album, since half the time you can’t believe that they actually resorted to that 80’s gimmick of a dubbed voice trying to sound like Satan, but they do. With any other band, it might be ridiculous to the point of being non-listenable, but with Sodomizer, it’s just plain fucking fun. Hearing the retro-use of an ominous church bell on “Bring Your Dead” before Warlock’s blasphemous rasps pierce through the speakers jointed with 100 mph no-holds-barred riffing is like a suddenly being transported straight into metal’s past, where upside crosses were still horrific and spikes actually didn’t make you look like you belonged in an S&M gang.

One of the strongest aspects of “The Dead Shall Rise to Kill” is that there is no weak tracks, no dull moments, just pure black/speed/thrash metal bliss. Once “Blessed by the Virus of Death” starts, through the lyrics dealing with detailed anal sex on “Sexual Beast”, to the heavily-sampled and NWOBHM influenced closer “Katalepsy II”, Sodomizer manage to round out one of the most hardened albums of 2007, complete with killer, wanking solos, pulverizing riffs, and screeched vocals. The only downside to all of this is that they’re not going to redefine how you write metal. They stick very close to the tried-and-true riff structures, and this is something that many will scoff at. It’s hard to blame those people really, because after all, no one likes listening to the same thing over and over. However, oddly enough, that’s the whole point of Sodomizer really. They’re not here to blow your mind with technical-out-the-ass songs, or implement some new musical element unbeknownst to the rest of the metal community; they’re here to remind us all that in a world that cares more about what kind of new house Lars Ulrich is going to buy next and whether or not his turtle neck sweater matches the color of his tampon, metal can still be pure.

Metal Thrashing Mad - 80%

Skammdegisthunglyndi, January 30th, 2008

Screw this NWOAHM and "neo-thrash" bullshit, South America has been churning out endless amounts of kick ass 80s homage for years. Leather and bullet belt sporting Brazilians Sodomizer are no exception. If the cheesy arse chainsaw logo and comfortably generic cover didn't tip you off, this is an old school thrash fest with more riffs than Hetfields scrap book.

If the words Accept or Metal Church don't force an involuntary spasm of head-banging and a horns salute, this album might not be for you; this is by the book 80s thrash worship. Every aspect of this album oozes denim and bad hair with songs like 'Heavy Metal Horror' and 'Undead Revenge', resplendent with horror movie samples and cheesy intros . Its all about the tripartite riff pattern followed by a variation, Araya style screaming vocalizations and banshee wailing solos. 'Blessed By The Virus Of Death' is one of those "lull you into a false sense of security" openers, with a monk chant leading you into a slow strummed melody. Of course, just as you're getting comfortable in drops some trademark thrash riffage and an 'Angel Of Death' scream. Tastefully clean solos, rumbling bass and understated distortion carry this album through a time warp.

So, it's hardly original. And it's a little repetitive. But who gives a fuck? This is thrash. In an age where people are more interested in what colour Matt Heafy has painted his nails than the fact Lamb Of God are making a living butchering Testament riffs, we need bands like Sodomizer.