So after SODOM had moved towards a cleaner and decidedly less Thrashier sound on their last two albums (although both were still quite good) it was only a matter of time for them to push back towards their roots. And “Get What You Deserve” is exactly that. SODOM returns towards a Punkier and stripped down version of their music for this release. But unfortunately, it doesn’t pay off as much as they would have hoped.

Although that old school energy and Punk attitude just seethes from this release, the overwhelming mediocrity of the songwriting just undermines anything that the band could have done performance wise. Add to this the fact that there are 16 tracks on the album and most of them feel like filler from earlier works. For such a strong band in the songwriting department, hearing them create a miss like this album is simply disappointing.

But it’s not just the mediocre song writing that makes this album sub par in the SODOM catalog. The raw production, although some older fans are going to love it, detracts from the performances too much. The guitar tone buzzes through the riffs and the drums practically sound live and badly recorded. Only Tom Angelripper’s vocals sound as though they were produced half way right.

Occasionally I found a song that I enjoyed on this album like “Jabba The Hut” – but most of the songs that normally would have been favorites are just undermined by the production. The title track is just sabotaged by the guitar tone. And it’s sad really to hear SODOM in such a state.

I suggest this release for fans of SODOM and/or old and very raw Thrash Metal. Most casual listeners are going to switch it off 15 seconds into the first song. There are a few songs that deserve some attention and multiple listens but the album as a whole is just too flawed to be even a mediocre SODOM release.

Songs to check out: “Jabba The Hut”, “Eat Me”, “Fellows In Misery”.

(Online August 31, 2008)