Sodom Album: “M-16 [Expanded]”

If u like Agent Orange and Better off Dead, you can buy this one and like it too. They have become a little repetitive but I'll still give it 4 stars just for keeping the 80's trash spirit alive.

I just recently discoverd this band ab until now ive gotta say WOW! this is pure metal great lyrics for this one ,this album is what metal should talk about and sound like great music and lyrics about war and death the tracks i espically liked is "Among The Weirdcong" "I AM The WAR" "genocide" you gotta hear this one if you like pure aggresion lyrics and great intense guitar riffs a must have

Let's get one thing clear first: I absolutely love 80s style thrash, and since in my heart, a mediocre album from a third tier semi obscure band, let's say, Assassin's Interstellar Experience, will always be better than any of today's top notch first quality metal albums, let's say, Lamb of God's Wrath or Mastodon's Crack the Skye, don't expect any objectivity whatsoever from this review.

So, what we have here is a first class German Thrash album, maybe a little cleaner, focused and less chaotic than Sodom's classic 80s albums like Obsessed by Cruelty and Persecution Mania, but equally pummeling nonetheless, maybe a little more rooted in the Agent Orange mould, that is, less speed and more groove. Lirically, the songs are all about the Vietnam War, or at least all those great movies about Vietnam that came in the wake of Apocalypse Now. References to this movies are splattered all over, from the sample in Napalm in the Morning to the Surfin' Bird cover. In short, what you get here is one of the 00s best traditional thrash albums, bar none. Even if you have just a passing interest in metal's headbangiest style, do yourself a favor and pick up this sadly overlooked gem.

Admittedly, I have a passion for Sodom, Kreator and especially Destruction. These bands are true stand-outs when it comes to brutal, classic thrash.

If you like Agent Orange, then consider this the 2nd part of it. It is not as ground-breaking as it is not as new to the metal scene as Agent Orange was when it was released, but it is still undeniably a great classic thrash record. Songs like `Marines' and `M16' are excellent and the other tracks don't disappoint - no need to skip any tracks as you listen to this CD.

I must say that the bass/drums on the recording could have been a bit more crisp, but considering the quality of the music writing it is still worth buying.

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning..." - classic stuff!