Sodom was formed by Thomas Such (v/b) and Frank Testegen (g) in 1982 in the Western German industrial town of Gelsenkirchen. Soon known under their pseudonyms "Angelripper" and "Aggressor", they were mostly influenced by bands like Motörhead, Tank, Raven, and Venom. They found a drummer called Reiner "Bloody Monster" Focke, but he was quickly replaced by Christian Dudeck ("Witchhunter"). This line-up released two demos, 'Witching Metal' (1982) and 'Victims of Death' (1984), before signing a deal with SPV. After a gig in Frankfurt in 1984 Manfred Schïtz of SPV/Steamhammer came to the band and said: "You guys are so bad, you will sell a lot of records!" This led to the recording of their debut EP 'In the Sign of Evil' (1984). Missing was "Agressor", who had meanwhile left the band. He was replaced by Peppi Dominic aka "Grave Violator". Not long after he was also replaced. This time adding Michael "Destructor" Wulf to the line-up. Their first full-length album "Obsessed by Cruelty", was released in 1986. "Destructor then left  to join Kreator (where he would last only one show). He died in a motorcycle accident in 1993. After "Obsessed by Cruelty" was released, the band abolished their satanic image and replaced it with the (pacifistic motivated) war theme that can be found on most of Sodom's records. With their new guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik, the most legendary Sodom line-up recorded two studio albums ('Persecution Mania' (1987) and 'Agent Orange' (1989)), and a live effort ('Mortal Way Of Live' (1988)).  'Persecution Mania' saw the introduction of the band's mascot, named "Knarrenheinz". 'Agent Orange' also included the single 'Ausgebombt', helping the band to become the first German thrash band to ever enter the charts, reaching as high s #36. "Blackfire" then left in 1989 (also joining Kreator) and was replaced by ex-Assassin guitarist, Michael Hoffman. In 1992 Tom fired Chris "Witchhunter", who had alcohol problems. Guiodo "Atomic Steif" Rickter, who would stay in the band until 1996, became the new drummer. Since 1997 the Sodom line-up consists of Tom Angelripper, Bobby Schottkowski and Bernemann. In 2001 Tom, who meanwhile also released various solo albums as Onkel Tom, was awarded double platinum for more than 1.000.000 sold Sodom albums.

AGENT ORANGE (1989) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

This is where my love for Sodom began. As a young teenager a friend of mine played me this album on vinyl, and i couldn't believe how heavy it was. This is fast and furious thrash metal, totally relentless, but not without direction. Every song comes across as a separate entity. So even though these guys play fast, and the vocals are frenetically sneered in an angry manner, Sodom still manages to create "melodies". Heavily influenced by Mötorhead, Venom and Tank ("Don't Walk Away" is a cover by the latter), Tom Angelripper and his men created the blueprint for German thrash metal. Together with Destruction and Kreator, they are the true "inventors" of the genre. And 'Agent Orange' might just as well be the bands finest moment. It is certainly become a fan favorite, and a classic. Sporting a whole lot better production than its predecessors, and abandoning the "all hail, Satan" lyrics, 'Agent Orange' adopts the now, in Sodom manner, common war theme. The music is fast paced, not very technical, but still well-played, dirty, gritty and heavy as a freight train. But amidst it all there is order in the chaos, and breathing space provided, not so much in pace, as much as in the fact that every song has it's own unique signature. 'Agent Orange' remains one of my all time favorite thrash metal albums.

Killer tracks: They are all great, but check out "Agent Orange" and "Baptism Of Fire" to blow your head off!

BETTER OFF DEAD (1990) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

The first time I heard Sodom was when a friend of mine played me the 'Agent Orange' album. That was so many years ago, when I was still in my teens. Since then I have not heard any other Sodom effort, and that is pretty strange, considering 2 things: 1: I really liked the 'Agent Orange' album, and 2: Sodom has continuously released new material since their start back in the early 80's. So now it was time to check out another platter by this legendary band, and to start off another branch in my collection. We're talking classic German thrash metal here. Although I also hear some obvious Motörhead similarities also. Sodom are one of the defining bands in this genre, and although I suspect 'Better Off Dead' not to be one of their finest moments, it's still a good CD. Just check out the opening track and "The Saw Is The Law" (a song about Leatherface, the main character in the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' movies). Tom's fondness for WWII themes are ever present. They also incorporate some covers-tunes. "Cold Sweat" is a tribute to Thin Lizzy, and "Turn Your Head Around" is a rendition of an old Tank tune.

Killer tracks: An Eye For An Eye, The Saw Is The Law, Capture The Flag

TAPPING THE VEIN (1992) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

Sodom is one of the most influential bands to the second wave of black metal. By the time of the release of this, the bands 5th full-length album, all the press about the Norwegian black metal scene was plastered all over the media world. And I can't help to think that it might have sparked a new flame for these "old" Germans, as this album starts off with 2 of the most brutal songs to ever come from Tom and company. "One Step Over The Line" takes it a step back to a more "classic" Sodom groove. But "Deadline" follows as yet another vicious thrash metal assault. "Bullet In The Head", for whatever reason, reminds me of the groove-laden death metal of Mortification. I think it's the vocals that is throwing me for a loop. Tom actually manages to sound more extreme, but at the same time more melodic on this release. "The Crippler" is yet another ferocious attack on the listeners senses, sporting some ultra fast riffing and drumming. Tom is spewing out the lyrics. "Wachtum", the "obligatory" German lyrics tune, sports the oh so familiar Motörhead meets punk attitude. Only Sodom can get away with songs like this. The title track is simply put, another Sodom classic! This was to be the last album with Witchhunter in Sodom, but what a swansong it is! And this is the song that really makes the monster shine. Then it's "Back To War", a theme we are quite used to from Tom. It's another song in the typical German thrash metal style. And that is also the case with "Hunting Season". This songs is instrumental for almost 4 minutes, when Tom starts to belch out the lyrics in a machine-gun fashion. It's fast, it's ferocious, it's Sodom! The CD ends with "Reincarnation". This is probably the song that would have fit the most on any of the older bands albums. It's mid-paced, and full of groove. 'Tapping The Vein' might not be the Germans best effort. But it is yet another fine album from one of the most significant acts in the thrash metal scene.

Killer tracks: Body Parts, Skinned Alive, Deadline, The Crippler, Tapping The Vein, Reincarnation

Tom Angelripper guest appearances:

Powergod - 'Long Live The Loud - That's Metal Lesson II'

Related artists:

Kreator, Powergod