Sodom "Masquerade In Blood (Japan, Teichiku Records, TECW-25045)"

Masquerade in Blood is the seventh studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 June 1995 by Steamhammer/SPV. Musically, Masquerade is often seen as the band's rawest and heaviest record, and continues in the same vein as that of their previous album, but in a more post-thrash fashion.

The album includes a cover of Anti-Nowhere League song "Let's Break the Law", as well as a cover of Saxon song "20,000 Feet". The latter is only found on the Japanese releases of the album. This is also the only release to feature guitarist Strahli, and the second and last for drummer Atomic Steif, since the former was arrested in 1996 for possession of drugs, while the latter left the band for personal reasons.

Masquerade in Blood continues in the same crossover thrash vein as their previous studio effort Get What You Deserve (which was released in the previous year), however it is most notable for introducing a new groove metal style, with "overwhelming" death metal being present on select songs.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Tom Angelripper; all music is composed by Angelripper, Atomic Steif and Strahli, except where noted

1. "Masquerade in Blood" 3:19
2. "Gathering of Minds" 4:16
3. "Fields of Honour" 3:23
4. "Braindead" 2:29
5. "Verrecke!" (German lyrics) 2:48
6. "Shadow of Damnation" 2:57
7. "Peacemaker's Law" 3:23
8. "Murder in My Eyes" 2:38
9. "Unwanted Youth" 3:32
10. "Mantelmann" (Lyrics in German) 2:10
11. "Scum" 5:24
12. "Hydrophobia" 3:23
13. "Let's Break the Law" (Anti-Nowhere League cover) Nick Culmer, Chris Exall 2:55

Total length: 42:34

Japanese edition bonus track

1. "20,000 Feet" (Originally performed by Saxon) Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson, Pete Gill 3:39

Total length: 46:21

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed in Ra.Sh Studio, Gelsenkirchen, January / February 1995.

Mastered at Digital Mastering Studio.