First version recorded in Berlin supposedly by Horst Müller.
Second version recorded at Studio Hiltpolstein (near Nürnberg) by Bobby Bachinger.
In an interview on the following website http://metal-rules.com/interviews/sodom.htm Tom Angelripper explains the story of how 2 different recordings of "Obsessed by Cruelty" (Steamhammer, and Metal Blade/US) came to be released. In it, he states:
"We recorded this album twice. The first version was recorded in Berlin and the record company said that: "No, it is awful - …so bad and shit…". We had to record it twice and the second recording we did nearby in Nürnberg, Germany. This recording has one bonus track because we had another guitar player. It was a completely different recording and as for that trash press made in Berlin, it was just for the US import. And it was a mistake of the company as they changed the tapes, so there was a complete new recording of "Obsessed by Cruelty".
The original recording from Berlin is used on the original US edition, released by Metal Blade, and most editions of the album on all formats. Only the European Steamhammer edition of the LP seems to contain the second recording from Studio Hilpoltstein with the additional "After the Deluge" track.
Title-list below shows the European Steamhammer pressing, the additional track is no. 6, "After the Deluge" (4:53).
01. Intro (The Rebirth...)
02. Deathlike Silence
03. Brandish the Sceptre
04. Proselytism Real
05. Equinox
06. After the Deluge
07. Obsessed by Cruelty
08. Fall of Majesty Town
09. Nuctemeron
10. Pretenders to the Throne
11. Witchhammer
12. Volcanic Slut
Note: The 1988 re-release combines the “In The Sign Of Evil” EP and the US version, not the European version of “Obsessed By Cruelty”, i.e. the track listing is wrong, as this CD does not include “After The Deluge” and there is no “After The Deluge / Obsessed By Cruelty” medley either!
01. Intro - Outbreak of Evil (0:14)
02. Outbreak of Evil (4:34)
03. Sepulchral Voice (4:31)
04. Blasphemer (3:05)
05. Witching Metal (3:13)
06. Intro - Burst Command Til War (0:38)
07. Burst Command Til War (2:43)
08. Outro - Burst Command Til War (0:15)
09. Intro - Deathlike Silence (1:53)
10. Deathlike Silence (5:06)
11. Brandish the Scepter (2:56)
12. Proselytism Real (3:31)
13. Equinox (3:32)
14. Volcanic Slut (3:21)
15. Obsessed by Cruelty (5:47)
16. Fall of Majesty Town (4:01)
17. Nuctemeron (3:00)
18. Pretenders to the Throne (2:39)
19. Witchhammer (2:02)
Also re-released by
Vinyl Maniacs / EMRmusic in 2005 as picture vinyl.
Re-released in 2000 together with "Persecution Mania" and "In the Sign of Evil" as "2 Originals of Sodom".