The Horror, The Horror...... (M-16 - Sodom)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	M-16 - Sodom
Date:	14/08/09 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catchy, crunchy riffs, very entertaining and well-executed, nice artwork

Disadvantages: Not the most original of albums, sound quality on expanded version's bonus live tracks is terrible

Released in 2001, German metal band Sodom's tenth full-length 'M-16' is a thrash metal album based around the Vietnam war. Sounds like fun... and indeed it is, like a head-on collision between the worlds of Slayer and Rambo consisting of a combination of sections of mid-paced, groovy, chugging riffs and galloping , up-tempo Kreator-like all-out thrash parts, contrasting the two nicely throughout the album in a way that stops things from sounding samey or overly repetitive.

The riffs, whether slow and chuggy or fast and frenetic, are hugely catchy and enjoyable throughout, and the album also includes several incredibly crunchy and bombastic anthemic numbers, such as title track 'M-16' and 'Napalm in the Morning', which opens with a line from 'Apocalypse Now'....yep... that one. The vocals are of the coarse, growled (yet still intelligible) variety, and the lyrics are the usual, apocalyptic, war-obsessed thrash stuff that is colourful, endearing and very difficult not to sing along to. The deliciously over-the-top, cartoony artwork suits the music and aesthetic perfectly, looking as if it has escaped from inside the covers of a copy of 2000AD magazine.

The album is consistenly strong and enjoyable right the way through, and ends with a slightly cringeworthy yet wholly appropriate cover of The Trashmen song 'Surfin' Bird', bringing things to a suitably rowdy and entertaining close. The expanded version also includes two bonus live tracks, but as these recordings are of dictaphone quality they're really not worth bothering with.

There's nothing stunningly original or innovative about 'M16', but its a wholly enjoyable and endearing listen and if you're looking for some engaging, unpretentious chuggy thrash then its an album that certainly won't disappoint!

Tracklisting-

1. Among the Weirdcong 05:08
2. I Am the War 04:07
3. Napalm in the Morning 05:57
4. Minejumper 03:11
5. Genocide 04:49
6. Little Boy 04:09
7. M-16 04:49
8. Lead Injection 06:24
9. Cannon Fodder 03:54
10. Marines 03:55
11. Surfin' Bird (Trashmen Cover) 02:39
12. Witching Metal (Demo) 03:10
13. Devil's Attack (Demo) 03:12

Total Playing Time- 55.24

Summary: Excellent unpretentious, chuggy thrash