- Better Off Dead – Sodom’s Relentless Thrash Metal Masterpiece from 1990
This album "SODOM – Better Off Dead " is the fourth album by Sodom. "Better Off Dead" is the 4th album by the German Thrash Metal band: "SODOM". It has been produced by Harris Johns, who was assisted for the sound engineering by Angelo Plate, Thomas Patsch and David Nash. Recording of this album took place at Music Lab Studios, Berlin, while sound mixing was done at Dierks Studio Pulheim, during August until September 1990. It has been released on the Steamhammer record-label in 1990.
"SODOM - Better Off Dead" stands as a testament to the ferocity of German Thrash Metal. Released on [Long European Date Format: August 1990], this album marked the fourth offering from the iconic band Sodom, propelling them further into the realms of metal greatness.
Historical Context:
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Thrash Metal scene was in full swing, with bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth dominating the genre. Sodom, formed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, in 1981, had already established themselves as a force to be reckoned with by the time they embarked on the creation of "Better Off Dead."
The Making of "Better Off Dead":
The production of the album was entrusted to the skilled hands of Harris Johns, a renowned figure in the metal world. Assisted by Angelo Plate, Thomas Patsch, and David Nash for sound engineering, the team meticulously crafted the auditory assault that would become "Better Off Dead." The recording sessions unfolded at Music Lab Studios in Berlin, capturing the raw energy and aggression synonymous with Thrash Metal.
The album's sonic tapestry was woven at Dierks Studio Pulheim, where the tracks were mixed to perfection. The process unfolded during a crucial period from August to September 1990, a time that would go down in history as the forging of one of Sodom's most influential albums.
Release and Reception:
"Better Off Dead" saw the light of day under the Steamhammer record label in 1990. Its release was met with anticipation and excitement from the metal community. The album's impact resonated not only in Germany but also across the global metal landscape, solidifying Sodom's status as a heavyweight in the Thrash Metal genre.
Speed / Thrash Metal
SteamHammer SPV 008 - 76261
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
1990 Made in Germany
This 12" LP vinyl music record comes comes in an album cover which has been embossed
This album included the original custom inner sleeve with on one side an illustration and credits, while on the other side illustration and lyrics of all the songs
"Better of Dead" was produced by Harris Johns
Angelo Plate - Sound Engineer
David Nash - Sound Engineer
Thomas Pätsch - Sound Engineer
Music Lab Studios, Berlin - Recording Studio
Dierks Studio Pulheim - Sound mix studio
Recorded and mixed during August and September 1990.
Andreas Marschall - Album Cover Artwork
DE SIGN Gmbh - Album Cover Design
The cover art for Sodom’s Better Off Dead features a dark, gothic design with intricate engravings on a stone wall. A skeletal, gloved hand reaches out from an opening in the stone, while a single menacing eye peers through the shadows, giving the artwork a sinister, almost supernatural atmosphere. Symbols, skulls, and cryptic markings, including an anarchy symbol, are carved into the stone, reinforcing the themes of chaos and death. The band’s iconic spiked logo takes center stage at the top, with the album title ‘Better Off Dead’ engraved at the bottom.
This is the Side Two record label of Sodom’s album Better Off Dead. The artwork features a minimalist yet striking design in a cool monochrome tone. At its center is a haunting figure of a soldier wearing a gas mask and helmet, evoking imagery of war and desolation. The figure is heavily stylized, with intricate details suggesting a fusion of machinery and organic elements, giving it a biomechanical aesthetic. Surrounding the figure is a geometric, diamond-like structure that intersects with the figure, creating a sense of symmetry and depth. The design reflects the album’s dark and industrial themes, embodying a sense of dystopia and conflict.
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