XL and Death Before Dishonor

Item: Sodom and America
Author: D_Lister

Sodom and America

(1993)

Reviewed by D_Lister

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Label Brainstorm ArtistsDead Zine2002

funk metal hip hop punk rap metal

This 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 Beastie Boys pumping out music of a similar nature. The only other release that was in this vein of music was the first album by Rage Against The Machine. So the field it seemed was ripe for a Christian artist to make the bold step and combine rap and metal.

Yes this is a rap/metal combination...not a rapcore album like you are used to hearing, you've got to think about the music in terms of being 90's thrash metal, with a black rapper handling the main vocals. To spice the soup, they managed to get some guest musicians on this album. I'm guessing to create hype and get fans of other bands to take a look at this effort. The guest appearances include Jimmy Brown, Greg Minier, Mark Salomon, Bret Cadell, Shawn Gurule, Super C, Greg Lawless, Doug Shumway, Mike Phillips, and James Timony.

OK so now that you know the ground work, let me tell you simply. I LOVE THIS CD. I heard it years ago, but didn't ever own a copy. I actually forgot how much I dug it until recently I found two brand new copies on sale at a store...I bought BOTH!

The music is punchy thrash as I've stated, and the leads are pretty stinking cool, and very different as they have some played by DBD and some played by the guest musicians. So guitar sound and style will change from lead to lead. Lyrically this is one TOUGH CD! I'm not going to quote the entire album, but check this;

In 1993 racism trudges on and on it seems it can't be tamed.
And if racism was a man and I had a twelve gauge
I'd shoot him in the head in the Lord God's name.
(from DIE-That Settles It)

Now I'm sick and tired of pretty young ladies
feeling like they ain't worth trash.
They'll do anything just to feel accepted
but they're losing their integrity fast.
Quit trying to be what other people want
and realize who you really are.
Cause God is the one who made ya woman,
and to Him you're nothing but a star.
(from Woman)

Now if this country's under God that ain't the way it seems.
I'll put the blame on those who want the American Dream.
While in pursuit of big money, life and happiness
Our country constantly continues only to digress.
And now you're askin' me why I'm so militant
Cause I see the devil's hand on this continent.
And I ain't shuttin' up not for a second
Our country's gone from independent to decadence.
(from Sodom and America)

and on and on and on...laying it out as harshly as it needs to be done, maybe it's this aspect that caused this album to have only mediocre sales at the time and now to have slipped into near obscurity. People don't want to hear a message like this. They don't want to feel convicted of the things they enjoy, but now I'm rambling, not reviewing!

If you find a copy of this album, I highly suggest you check into it. The last track Afrocka is pretty cool. Done in a light hearted manner the song eases the tension as the closing song, where the first 11 tracks took you on an emotional roller coaster. Afrocka is simply about XL & DBD. Keep in mind in 1993 afros were FAR from cool on black people, never the less, XL wore his proudly as he sang;

It's 1993 but I can't wait til '95
cause my afro's gonna be foot high.
Not with the wave, curl or the natty dread.
I got a big buckwheat afro on my head.

8/10