I'll never understand the appeal of Sodom. Just another band that would be 1/4 as popular if Dark Angel had gotten more exposure.

Different regions though, Germany and USA were probably not that knowing of each other outside certain circles and tape trading, so I bet popularity would be not that different at the time.

I like both. Dark Angel are kind of just another California thrash band, just with one of the best drummers filling in their sound.

You're giving that album less credit than it deserves. DD is basically Pleasure To Kill + Reign In Blood. It's a thrash album, but the riffs have those slight chromatic tendencies that are definitely influenced by early death metal band. That album also has one of the darkest, thickest atmospheres in metal that stood unchallenged until Altars of Madness.

I think I am giving it as much as it deserves, it is a great album. It is still really held together by Gene Hoglan, who is an amazing drummer. It has great energy and feel, but can still listen to it and hear where it came from as well.

No, you're still not giving the band enough credit. That album has a sound like being run over by a freight train, and the only other album I know of that has that aggressive chugging sound is Pleasure to Kill, which came out two weeks before it. It's not like they copied it.

****. This IS really intense. I've gone from being indifferent about Kreator to liking their first five albums outright.

Of course they didn't, chances are they didnt even really know them that well at the time, and would have heard it later anyway.

I give them plenty credit, it is a great album. I think the vocals are what I mean by California sound. As far as albums from 1986 goes, it is one of the best too.

very few albums have measured up to this.

I want to have sex with that album.

That’s honestly how I feel about it. It’s not very subtle, but that album isn’t very subtle.