Persecution Mania

Persecution Mania
Studio album by Sodom
Released	1 December 1987
Recorded	2-22 October, 1987
Studio	Musiclab Studios, Berlin
Genre	Thrash metal, speed metal
Length	34:39
Label	Steamhammer/SPV
Producer	Sodom
Sodom chronology
Expurse of Sodomy (1987) Persecution Mania (1987) Mortal Way of Live (1988)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Rock Hard

Persecution Mania is the second studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 December 1987 by Steamhammer/SPV. The album, while still heavily rooted in speed metal style, marked a beginning of a change of sound from black metal to thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity. The album also bore similarity to the music of other German bands such as Destruction and Kreator, and the term "Teutonic" thrash was coined from this.

Despite what the cover may imply, the lyrical themes of the album are centred more around politics and war than religion. This is largely due to guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Godznik joining the band. He brought new songwriting aspects to the band that gave it a much more organized and clearer sound, as well as helping Sodom to carve a lyrical niche that it still practices to this day. The outro guitar lead in track 9, "Bombenhagel", is the German national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen".

Persecution Mania was re-released in 2000 as part of a double pack with the Obsessed by Cruelty/In the Sign of Evil split. Both CD releases include the Expurse of Sodomy EP.

Track listing

All music is composed by Chris Witchhunter, Frank Blackfire and Tom Angelripper, except where noted

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nuclear Winter"	5:26
2.	"Electrocution"	3:26
3.	"Iron Fist" (Motörhead cover)	2:45
4.	"Persecution Mania"	3:40
5.	"Enchanted Land"	4:01
6.	"Procession to Golgatha"	2:01
7.	"Christ Passion"	6:13
8.	"Conjuration"	3:44
9.	"Bombenhagel"	5:11
Total length:		34:39

European CD Release Tracks

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Outbreak of Evil"	3:32
11.	"Sodomy & Lust"	5:14
12.	"The Conqueror"	3:29
13.	"My Atonement"	6:05

The European CD release (Cat.-No. SPV 85-7509) has a rerecording of "Outbreak of Evil" and the Expurse of Sodomy EP as bonus tracks

The cassette has only the rerecorded "Outbreak of Evil" as a bonus track.

Personnel

Sodom

• Tom Angelripper - vocals/bass guitar
• Frank Blackfire - guitars
• Chris Witchhunter- drums

Additional musician

• Harris Johns - guitar solo on "Bombenhagel"

Production

• Johannes Beck - Cover Painting
• Harris Johns - Engineering, Producer