The Saw Is the Law
Sodom · 1991
11 min · 3 tracks · thrash metal
A gruesome thrash-metal centerpiece gives way to a brisk punk cover and a hard-rock anthem recast with a harsher edge.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Saw Is the Law (Splatting version) — The extended title track gives its chainsaw-horror scenario room to unfold through grinding guitar and Tom Angelripper’s raw delivery.
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Tarred and Feathered — Sodom’s cover of the Pagans song brings punk brevity to the EP, trading the title track’s longer buildup for a quick jolt.
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The Kids Wanna Rock — A Bryan Adams cover is an unexpected closer; Sodom retains the song’s rock-and-roll rallying cry while giving it a rougher thrash treatment.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The EP showcases solid thrash metal elements but lacks standout compositions that elevate it significantly.
What we noticed
- The title track features a rapid tempo with aggressive guitar riffs layered over relentless drumming, creating a chaotic sound.
- Each of the three tracks maintains a consistent intensity, with no significant tempo changes or breaks in energy.
- The EP closes with 'The Kids Wanna Rock,' which contrasts the heavier sound of the previous tracks by incorporating more melodic elements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — The album solidified Sodom's presence in thrash metal after earlier successes.
- Themes
- horror-themed aggression· German thrash scene· punk-infused brutality
- Career context
- Released in 1991, The Saw Is the Law followed Sodom’s fourth studio album, Better Off Dead, which introduced guitarist Michael Hoffmann to the band. The EP revisits that album’s title track in an extended version and pairs it with two covers.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kreator· Destruction· Sepultura
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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The Kids Wanna Rock
The opening verse searches across the radio dial before the chorus turns that frustration into a repeated demand for rock music.
The move from a specific listening situation to a collective chant gives the cover its compact anthem structure.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Saw Is the Law (Splatting version) 5:52
- 2 Tarred and Feathered 3:04
- 3 The Kids Wanna Rock 2:47
What to play next
Tapping the Vein
1992
Continues the aggressive energy with refined production and complex arrangements.
Better Off Dead
1990
Builds intensity leading into the relentless style of The Saw Is the Law.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Coma of Souls
Kreator
Shares a similar aggressive energy and complex riffs, rooted in the German thrash metal scene.
Reign in Blood
Slayer
Delivers relentless speed and dark themes, paralleling the horror-infused aggression of Sodom.
Beneath the Remains
Sepultura
Combines thrash intensity with punk influences, echoing the brutal sound and themes of Sodom's work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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