Think the Crucified with a rapper. This isn't some simple sounds-like description: XL & DBD really is the Crucified with a rap artist on lead vocals. Thus making Sodom and America the earliest rapcore hybrid on the CCM market.
What sets Sodom and America apart from the current glut of other acts these days is the fact that it's a true hybrid: a punk thrash band collaborating with a rapper, instead of a band searching for a certain sound. XL & DBD would be what Ice T's side band Body Count was like, had Body Count actually been good instead of a pathetic novelty act. While I'm not a big fan of rapcore in general, what I am a fan of is a good guitar groove. And good guitar grooves is what Sodom and America is chock full of. Good, thick and meaty grooves melded with some infectious rapping from XL (and sometimes Mark Salomon), and rather militant lyrics swarming together for a good solid listen straight through. And the sound doesn't seem to get monotonous, just...good. And since I'm in the habit of mentioning my choice cuts from CDs, the ones on Sodom and America are "Brother To The Saboteur", "Sodom And America", "Kiss Of Chaos" (that one's extra dark, I love it), "Death Before Dishonor", "Die (That Settles It)", "Woman" and "Afrocka".
I'd wager a bet that most fans of Limp Bizkit would get into this recording. Belly up, boys. . .
7.5/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerThis one dates back to 1993, and is the union of thrash metal and the vocal works of independent DJ XL to form XL and Death Before Dishonor (DBD). At this point we've had Anthrax doing "I'm The Man" as well as their teaming up with Public Enemy to give us "Bring The Noise." We've had Run DMC team up with Aerosmith to pull off a rendition of their song "Walk This Way" and of course we've had the…The Lighthouse June 1993Reviewed by Roger AppelinskiIf you like the secular group Living Colour, then this is an album to check out. XL & Death Before Dishonor have created an exciting, aggressive Rap/Rock/Hip-Hop/Thrash/Punk album that you might find if you mixed up Mike-E, D.C. Talk, and One Bad Pig. The album's pace is great, blending heavy bass with harsh electric guitars. It mixes tunes emphasizing each of these influences into a hard hitting…Heaven's Metal #40Reviewed by David JenisonThe fusion of thrash metal and hard rap has been an inviting combination, which has generally failed to succeed in the Christian market--that is, until now. Rap artist XL and his thrash band Death Before Dishonor (DBD) have exploded on the metal scene with an album that is aggressive, hard and powerful, yet with a vocal style all its own. Though many people would call DBD the Christian Bodycount,…Similar sounding releases
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