SODOM

track-list:
Sepulchral Voice
After The Deluge
Electrocution
Baptism Of Fire
Better Off Dead
Body Parts
Jabba The Hut
Gathering Of Minds
That’s What An Unknown Killer Diarized
Book Burning
Genocide
City Of God
Ashes To Ashes
In War And Pieces
S.O.D.O.M.
Caligula
Euthanasia
Bonustracks:
MC:
“Equinox”
Boxset Bonus CD:
1982
Witching Metal
Victims Of Death
Let’s Fight In The Darkness Of Hell

sodom are:
Tom Angelripper – bass, vocals
Frank Blackfire – guitars
Yorck Segatz – guitars
Toni Merkel – drums

pic by Moritz “Mumpi” Künster

40 years of Sodom, 40 years of ruthless thrash metal ‘Made in Germany’.
What came into being in 1982 in Gelsenkirchen-Buer has lost nothing of its authenticity and rawness, not even four decades later.
Tom Angelripper and his men still belong to the spearhead of a music style that draws its energy from pure determination, intransigence and relentlessness.
What’s more, Sodom never fail to surprise their fans all over the world.
They managed especially well with ‘40 Years At War – The Greatest Hell Of Sodom’, a more than worthy anniversary album that – in various formats – sums up the bands history in an unusual and highly ambitious way. Tom explains: “Our goal was to re-record one song from each of our previous albums. Not necessarily the most obvious ones, we wanted to go for rarities or tracks weve never or very rarely played live.”
‘40 Years At War – The Greatest Hell Of Sodom’ will be released on October 28th, 2022 via Steamhammer/SPV as CD, double vinyl record, digital download and as a lavish, richly stocked and extremely limited box set including a bunch of surprises.
The CD and vinyl double LP with their martial cover artwork penned by Eliran Kantor (Kreator, Testament, Gwar, among others) include 17 tracks, all newly recorded by the current Sodom line-up.
Tom:
“We cover the songs unaltered, that’s to say: in exactly the same key and with the original lyrics. We’re better musicians now than we were back then, of course, so the new versions sound tighter and more up-to-date. But the arrangements of the songs were deliberately kept unchanged.”
Obviously, the highlight of the new album is the richly equipped box set, plus an additional 4-track EP (artwork by Koloss-Skateboards-graphic artist Sebastian Feld aka. Besil Wrathbone) that includes the brand-new song ‘1982’ (the first single/video, release date: August 5th, 2022), in which Tom reminisces about their beginnings:
“At first, we just wanted to be a band, the music was almost an afterthought. We were against everything and everyone, wanted to shock the world and the more people hated us, the more motivated we got. Nobody would have expected that 40 years later, we’re still alive and playing. Those 40 years have gone by in a flash, but we continue to look forward.”
Aside from the CD and a differently coloured double LP with all their songs, the heart of the box set is a large-format hardcover book with a gripping introduction by Tom about their beginnings in 1982.
In addition, each album to date is honoured on a double page spread, depicting its original artwork and all production information.
One of the highlights of the book are the numerous fan statements, which Sodom had reached out to fans for last year, asking for anecdotes and memories.
Tom:
“We have always put special emphasis on our fan culture.
Thats why there’s a number of photos where our fans have had their picture taken with us.” The icing on the cake – or in this case the box set – is an audio cassette (!) containing each and every song from the CD/LP plus an exclusive bonus track: the re-recorded version of ‘Equinox’, originally featured on the 1986 album ‘Obsessed By Cruelty’. Tom remembers: “When we started 40 years ago, we weren’t even sure about who should be playing which instrument. In the end, I was left with the bass. We rehearsed in the auditorium of a secondary school and later on in the basement of a family home that belonged to the parents of a buddy of mine. We were on fire, everywhere you went, you experienced new awakenings.” The bands 40th anniversary festivities will be carried over into their concerts in the coming fall.
“We’ll not only play the Sodom classics, but also consider fan requests. Were launching a poll about songs weve rarely or never played live on a tour to find out which ones the fans want to hear.”
That’s exactly what Sodom are about:
being close to their fans, full of ideas, burning for action while keeping their eyes on the goal ahead.
Tom:
“If you want to draw a summary of the past four decades, it can only be this: 40 years later, and we’re still here!”

Tracklisting:
Bombenhagel
Coup De Grace
Pestiferous Posse
Tracks 1 is a re-recorded classic with the current line-up
Track 2 and Track 3 are brand new recorded songs with the current line-up!

Following yet more official appreciation, as acknowledged by the presentation of the German Record Critics’ Award, for their current album Genesis XIX (having garnered the prize once before with its predecessor Decision Day in 2016) and prior to their upcoming 40th band anniversary next year, Sodom have rarely been as energetic as in spring 2021.
Despite cancelled shows, despite the Covid-19 lockdown, despite the many imponderabilities that these strange times bring about.
In a phase when other bands appear to remain stuck in anguish, 20 August 2021 will see Tom Angelripper and band members Frank Blackfire (guitar), Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) release their brand-new EP Bombenhagel on Steamhammer/SPV, available on CD, 12” vinyl and for digital download.
“Originally we had planned to bring out the record in time for this year’s summer festival season, including a sticker with all confirmed tour dates.
Of course, the way it looks at the moment, all gigs will be postponed until 2022. But the EP will be released anyway, as a sign of life. As a signal to our fans:
We’re still around!
The story continues,” explains Tom, who has three sensational numbers up his sleeve.
Number 1:
a new edition of their classic ‘Bombenhagel’, from their 1987 album Persecution Mania.
“I wanted a recording of our old classic by the new line-up. Of course that was really special with a drummer such as Toni and two stringsmen. This new arrangement of our anthem definitely holds a few surprises in store.”
Not forgetting an awesome guitar solo courtesy of Harris Johns, who as a producer also guested on the Persecution Mania version of ‘Bombenhagel’:
“Harris practically insisted oncontributing a special kind of solo, in line with his outstanding skill. Naturally, that’s been a real pleasure for us because we’re all aware of what he’s done for us. Without Harris, Sodom wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Number 2:
the brand-new track ‘Coup De Grace’, which Tom describes as a “true thrash sensation”.
The song was composed by Yorck Segatz, with lyrics penned – as ever – by Tom:
“It’s about the frequently-sung-about death blow that a hunter delivers to a deer that he has wounded, a torero to a bull, a killer to their victim. But what we are really saying is: Humanity is currently in the process of administering the blow of death to itself. Climate change, massive environmental problems, wars, the strange way of interacting that people currently have. We’re all responsible if things go down the drain. ‘Coup De Grace’ is our attempt to rouse people and urge them to act more thoughtfully.”
And last but not least, number 3:
‘Pestiferous Posse’, a sinister, heavy and downright brutal track with low-tuned guitars and lots of “heavy artillery” (quote Tom) in terms of sound.
It’s about that most famous of gunfights in the history of the American Wild West at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, in October 1881 between the brothers Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday, and local cattle and horse rustlers and outlaws, who called themselves the “Cowboys”.
To Tom, this historic event is not only a cornerstone of American history, but in a figurative sense also a synonym of current problems in the US, as well as Germany.
He says:
“If you look at the persistent battle between Democrats and Republicans, the storming of the Capitol a few months ago – there definitely are a few parallels with the past.”
Talking of which:
The new EP will certainly not be the last chapter of Sodom’s history.
Highly motivated thanks to the latest recognition of their outstanding thrash metal by fans and media alike, the four musicians have already set their sights on the future.
Tom promises:
“Of course we’re really happy that our fans love Genesis XIX and that the album has made no. 10 in the charts. After all, where would we be without our fans? Based on the fantastic reception of our album, our next target can only be to come up with something really special to mark our anniversary next year!”