Tales of the Reaper

Attention metalheads who aren't informed already, drummer Adremeleck also played with homage bands Apokalyptic Raids and Nocturnal Worshipper. Apokalyptic Raids being the obvious Hellhammer sounding band. And Nocturnal Worshipper being the Celtic Frost/Darkthrone sounding band. When I first seen the name 'Sodomizer'. Spelt with the typical 80's thrash metal ending 'er'. I was intrigued to hear what these guys concocted and what influences they had for this release. And was later proved wrong when I heard they sound like a lot of 80's speed/heavy metal bands with a black metal hint.

Typically, when a lot of extreme metal bands want to reflect on the 80's scene. They go for the Celtic Frost/Venom feel. But this release titled 'Tales of the Reaper' is different. They actually sound a lot like Accept, Metal Church, Dio, and some Motorhead highlights; for a few examples.

The production on this LP is done very well. When I say "very well" I don't mean perfect, but every instrument is audible and it is mixed by someone who knows what they are doing. And for that matter, a band who knows what they are playing and how to handle their instruments.

The guitars for this release aren't overly distorted. But aren't wimpy at the least. Making it a middle ground of heavy and light. The guitars are very well executed. These blazing beasts are a mix of many different metal albums. Mostly Accept's Restless and Wild, Metal Church's s/t, Dio's Holy Diver, and some Motorhead highlights. Especially the song 'Metal From Hell', which sounds musically like an album Motorhead later released. There isn't a single stale moment of riffage. The guitars usually consist of chords hit with a stopping emphasis. Then onto palm muted extensions, and to hit another chord and continue the process. The solo work is amazing. They aren't wildy played like 'Reign in Blood' but instead traditionally structured. Using a lot of comformed bending, pulling, and tap work. Another instrument worth a mention is the drums. They usually consist of galloping segments. Adremeleck's drumming isn't furiously performed or doesn't extend past galloping to go onto a thrash attack. But add the background for the guitars to give way for a headbangable delight. To further excel an already rising climax of good instrumentation would be Ripper's Vocals. The vocals are very screechy. They are a reminder of again traditional acts such as Metal Church and Accept. But more higher pitched with less complicated notes. These innovators of nowadays speed metal even extend off to have raspy vocals at points. But for the most part, traditionally done.

The lyrics deal with death, Satan, and perversion. The vocalist for some reason doesn't fully pronounce the words in the booklet though. But the lyrics are free from spelling errors or improper English. With Venomish song titles like 'Welcome to Nightmare', and 'Ladylust'.

This LP blew me away when I first took a spin. The best part about this excellent delivery is there isn't a single weak song on the whole album. Because all of us know a lot of the early eighties metal bands had at least one or two radio songs that didn't match the heaviness of the other songs. I only have two small complaints. One is that some of the endings of words aren't fully pronounced. And two there is a pointless interlude taken from the 'Blair Witch Project', where the main star puts on a very amateurish crying portrayal.

Sodomizer spawns this release hardly with a single birth defect. Track after track is just as consistent as the last. Excite your eardrums with 'Tales of the Reaper', an album recorded in 2004, which should have been recorded in the 1980's.

-J.M.