Album
Persecution Mania
Persecution Mania is the second studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 December 1987 by Steamhammer/SPV. It followed Obsessed by Cruelty from 1986 and shifted the band away from a mix of thrash, speed and black metal towards a mostly straight thrash approach. It sits alongside the work of fellow German bands Destruction and Kreator, the trio from which the "Teutonic" thrash tag took its name.
The sleeve might suggest religious themes, but the songs deal more with politics and war. Much of that comes from guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik, who joined for this record and brought tighter, clearer songwriting and a lyrical focus the band still follows. Listen out for the closing guitar lead on "Bombenhagel", which plays the German national anthem. Later CD editions also include the Expurse of Sodomy EP.
Persecution Mania: tracklist and credits
13 tracks · 54:25Tracklist
- 1Nuclear WinterAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter5:25
- 2ElectrocutionAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter3:14
- 3Iron FistClarke, Kilmister, Taylor2:43
- 4Persecution ManiaAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter3:38
- 5Enchanted LandAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter3:59
- 6Procession to GolgathaAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter2:01
- 7Christ PassionAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter6:12
- 8ConjurationAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter3:42
- 9BombenhagelAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter5:09
- 10Outbreak of EvilAngelripper, Violator, Witchhunter, Giant3:32
- 11Sodomy and LustAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter5:13
- 12The ConquerorAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter3:30
- 13My AtonementAngelripper, Blackfire, Witchhunter6:06
- Produced by
- Sodom, Harris Johns
- Recorded at
- Music Lab Berlin, Musiclab Studios, Berlin
- Recorded
- 2–22 October 1987
- Engineered by
- Harris Johns
- Labels
- Steamhammer, Steamhammer/SPV
- Length
- 54:25
Line-up
- Tom Angelripper · bass guitar, lead vocals
- Frank Blackfire · guitar
- Chris Witchhunter · drums (drum set)
- Harris Johns · background vocals · guest
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
48.8
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More from Sodom
Full discography →
In the Sign of Evil
1984
Obsessed by Cruelty
1986
Expurse of Sodomy
1987
Mortal Way of Live
1988
Agent Orange
1989
Ausgebombt
1989
Better Off Dead
1990
The Saw Is the Law
1991
Tapping the Vein
1992
Aber bitte mit Sahne!
1993
Get What You Deserve
1994
Marooned: Live
1994
Masquerade in Blood
1995
Ten Black Years: Best Of
1996
’Til Death Do Us Unite
1997
Code Red
1999
M‐16
2001
One Night in Bangkok
2003
Sodom
2006
The Final Sign of Evil
2007
In War and Pieces
2010
30 Years Sodomized: 1982–2012
2012
Epitome of Torture
2013
Hellion Rising / Water Boarding
2014
Sacred Warpath
2014
Decision Day
2016
Partisan
2018
Out of the Frontline Trench
2019
Genesis XIX
2020
Bombenhagel
2021
1982
2023
The Arsonist
2025
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1 December 1987 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 1 December 1987 | |
| Wikidata | 1987 | |
| US release | 1987 | earliest US date |
12 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | DE | Steamhammer | other | |
| 1987 | US | Steamhammer | 032751700021 | other |
| 1987 | US | Steamhammer | 032751700045 | other |
| 1987 | US | R/C Records | 016861949143 | other |
| 1 December 1987 | DE | Steamhammer | original | |
| 1 December 1987 | DE | Steamhammer | original | |
| 1 December 1987 | DE | Steamhammer | 4001617750926 | original |
| 1 December 1987 | DE | Steamhammer | original | |
| 1988 | US | R/C Records | 016861949129 | other |
| 21 October 1989 | JP | Metal Mania | 4988004008474 | other |
| 23 June 1993 | JP | Metal Mania | 4988004048210 | other |
| 2005 | SE | Vinyl Maniacs | other |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 600×596 | upscaled |