Sodom (band)
Encyclopedia
Sodom is a German Thrash metal
trio
from Gelsenkirchen
, formed in 1981.
Along with the bands Kreator
and Destruction
, Sodom is considered one of the "big three" of Teutonic thrash metal
. While the other two bands created a sound that would influence death metal
, Sodom's music style would greatly influence many late-1980s and early-1990s black metal
bands, among others.
, Bloody Monster,Arius "Blasphemer", and Aggressor. The band was initiated by Tom as a desperate attempt to get out of having to work in coal mines in his home town of Gelsenkirchen
. Taking inspiration from bands such as Motörhead, Venom
, Tank
, Accept
, Discharge
, Ramones
and AC/DC
, the group released two demos which led to a record deal with Steamhammer (which were not recorded with Bloody Monster, who by this time was replaced by Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek). Aggressor left the band shortly before releasing the In the Sign of Evil
EP (generally regarded as an important early black metal
release), and was replaced by Grave Violator, who himself did not last long, and left following the recording of In the Sign of Evil. Michael "Destructor" Wulf was found as a replacement, after which the band went and recorded Obsessed by Cruelty
, their full-length debut featuring music that was mostly in the vein of In The Sign of Evil. Wulf did not last in the band long, and later went and joined Kreator (he would not last long there either, and he died in 1993 after a tragic motorcycle accident).
. The new lyrical approach and increased musicianship on the part of Frank gave the band great acclaim (as well as a gas-masked mascot Knarrenheinz, who appeared for the first time on Persecution Manias cover). They soon embarked on a tour of Europe with the Swiss thrash metal band Coroner
. After touring for the better part of 1987 and 1988, the band returned to the studio to make another album. The final product, Agent Orange
, sold 100,000 copies in Germany alone. This made Sodom famous, giving them worldwide critical acclaim, and secured their place alongside Kreator
and Destruction
as one of the great Teutonic thrash metal bands. To this date, Agent Orange has sold more than any other German thrash-metal album in the world.
Problems were brewing inside of the band, however. Tom and Chris descended further into alcoholism
−and in Chris's case, drug abuse
. Furthermore, Frank had grown tired of composing music that his band-mates would often perform poorly live. Mille Petrozza
of Kreator
offered Frank a position with his band, after they lost their second guitarist, and Frank accepted. Angelripper went out looking for a replacement and found Michael Hoffman, formerly of German thrashers Assassin.
was released in 1990. During the South American tour however, Hoffman decided to stay in Brazil
and was therefore forced to quit. Andy Brings replaced him, and a new album was recorded, Tapping the Vein, with more of a death metal sound. This proved to be the last album with the drummer Witchhunter: He was kicked out of the band, and Atomic Steif formerly of both Holy Moses
and Living Death
became his replacement behind the drum kit.
The group recorded the album, Get What You Deserve
. The death metal influences were out; the influence of punk came in. Get What You Deserve had an arguably grotesque
album cover (featuring a dead man shot and lying in his bed with a woman tied-up nearby), and many fans did not take to the band's new direction. This period also marked the beginning of less international visibility for the band as thrash lost its commercial viability for the remainder of the 1990s.
Angelripper also started a solo career doing metal impressions of drinking songs, German schlagers and even Christmas-type carols. A live album was recorded of the tour in support of the resulting album called Marooned - Live.
Masquerade in Blood
, in the same vein as the previous album, was released in 1995. Again another guitarist had to be found. The new choice, Strahli, did not stay very long with the band. He was arrested and imprisoned on drug-related matters, and the band had since lost contact with him, until January 2011, when they learned he had died in Düsseldorf. Atomic Steif also left and again Angelripper needed to search for new members. These were found: a guitarist in Bernemann and a drummer in Bobby Schottkowski. This line-up stabilized the band significantly and lasted until December 2010, when Schottkowski left.
featured a controversial album cover, depicting a woman's pregnant belly and a man's beer gut pressing in a human skull together. This album marked the beginning of Sodom's return to thrash but was more along the lines of a thrash-crossover sound and had much in common with bands like Suicidal Tendencies
. It also spawned the song for which Sodom would make their most famous music video, the highly-controversial song "Fuck The Police." After this album, Sodom returned to the studio and released Code Red
in 1999 which marked a full return to the Teutonic thrash metal sound of the 1980s, and it was met with praise from fans and press alike. A limited edition featured a bonus CD containing a tribute to Sodom album, Homage to the Gods. With 2001 came the release of M-16
, a concept album about the Vietnam War, which took its title from the famed M16
assault rifle. A tour followed with the other two big German thrash metal bands Kreator
and Destruction
, but Sodom ended up going on its own halfway through the tour due to a feud between Destruction bassist Marcel Schirmer and Tom Angelripper. Destruction claimed Sodom ripped off their music and sound.
In 2003, a double live album was recorded in Bangkok, Thailand, titled One Night in Bangkok
. A new album simply titled Sodom
was released in 2006, in the same vein as M-16. The title was chosen - as Angelripper explained it - because every band needs a self-titled album, and the band had never released one. The album was delayed however, because the DVD Lords of Depravity took more time to compose than initially thought.
In 2007, Tom was asked by the record label Steamhammer for any tracks to be released on the In The Sign Of Evil EP. Tom believed there were, and the label floated the idea to Tom to get ex-members Chris Witchhunter and Grave Violator (real name: Franz Josef Peppi) to re-record the EP with the bonus tracks. The result became The Final Sign of Evil
. Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek died on 7 September 2008 from liver failure after a long battle with illness.
.
In War and Pieces
, Sodom's latest album, was released in Europe on November 22, 2010, and released in North America on January 11, 2011. On November 30, 2010, it was announced that Bobby Schottkowski would be leaving the band, due to "personal and private problems" between Tom Angelripper and Schottkowski. On December 8, 2010, Markus "Makka" Freiwald was announced to be Sodom's new drummer.
Drums
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
from Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
, formed in 1981.
Along with the bands Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
and Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
, Sodom is considered one of the "big three" of Teutonic thrash metal
Teutonic thrash metal
Teutonic thrash metal is a regional scene of thrash metal music that originated during the 1980s in Germany. Along with Bay Area thrash metal, East Coast thrash metal, and Brazilian thrash metal, it was one of the major scenes of thrash metal in the 1980s....
. While the other two bands created a sound that would influence death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, Sodom's music style would greatly influence many late-1980s and early-1990s black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
bands, among others.
Formation and early black metal years (1981-1986)
Sodom's original line-up consisted of Tom AngelripperTom Angelripper
Tom Angelripper is the founding member and main songwriter of the German thrash metal band Sodom.- Biography :...
, Bloody Monster,Arius "Blasphemer", and Aggressor. The band was initiated by Tom as a desperate attempt to get out of having to work in coal mines in his home town of Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
. Taking inspiration from bands such as Motörhead, Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, Tank
Tank (band)
Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
, Accept
Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s...
, Discharge
Discharge
Discharge in the context to expel or to "let go" may refer to:* A military discharge, issued when a member of the armed forces is released from service* Termination of employment, the end of an employee's duration with an employer...
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, the group released two demos which led to a record deal with Steamhammer (which were not recorded with Bloody Monster, who by this time was replaced by Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek). Aggressor left the band shortly before releasing the In the Sign of Evil
In the Sign of Evil
In the Sign of Evil is an EP released in 1984 by the German thrash metal band Sodom.The EP is widely available as the bonus tracks in the compact disc version of their debut album Obsessed by Cruelty ....
EP (generally regarded as an important early black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
release), and was replaced by Grave Violator, who himself did not last long, and left following the recording of In the Sign of Evil. Michael "Destructor" Wulf was found as a replacement, after which the band went and recorded Obsessed by Cruelty
Obsessed by Cruelty
Obsessed by Cruelty is the 1986 debut album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. It was re-released together with In the Sign of Evil in 1988, and as picture vinyl in 2005 by Vinyl Maniacs/EMRmusic....
, their full-length debut featuring music that was mostly in the vein of In The Sign of Evil. Wulf did not last in the band long, and later went and joined Kreator (he would not last long there either, and he died in 1993 after a tragic motorcycle accident).
Change to thrash metal and increasing popularity (1987-1990)
For the most part, Sodom was at first not taken seriously, with various press sources describing them as "a second-rate Venom clone with semi-inventive lyrics". One member would change that. Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik came in to fill the guitar spot Wulf had left behind. Frank convinced Tom that thrash metal was moving beyond horror/occult/satanic themes of bands like Venom to embrace political, societal, and war themes. Tom was already interested in various wars yet remained a peacenik. New inspiration culminated into Frank's full-length debut with the band, Persecution ManiaPersecution Mania
Persecution Mania is the second album by Sodom. The album marked a drastic change of sound from proto-black metal to thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity...
. The new lyrical approach and increased musicianship on the part of Frank gave the band great acclaim (as well as a gas-masked mascot Knarrenheinz, who appeared for the first time on Persecution Manias cover). They soon embarked on a tour of Europe with the Swiss thrash metal band Coroner
Coroner (band)
Coroner is a Swiss thrash metal/progressive metal band from Zurich. They garnered relatively little attention outside of Europe. Formed in 1983, the band broke up in 1996, but decided to reform 14 years later. The band will perform at multiple live venues and festivals around the world in 2011,...
. After touring for the better part of 1987 and 1988, the band returned to the studio to make another album. The final product, Agent Orange
Agent Orange (album)
Agent Orange is the third album by German thrash metal band Sodom, their last with guitarist Frank Blackfire before he left the band and joined Kreator. The lyrical content delves deeply into mainman's Tom Angelripper's fascination with the Vietnam War, sporting a song dedicated to the ground...
, sold 100,000 copies in Germany alone. This made Sodom famous, giving them worldwide critical acclaim, and secured their place alongside Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
and Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
as one of the great Teutonic thrash metal bands. To this date, Agent Orange has sold more than any other German thrash-metal album in the world.
Problems were brewing inside of the band, however. Tom and Chris descended further into alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
−and in Chris's case, drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
. Furthermore, Frank had grown tired of composing music that his band-mates would often perform poorly live. Mille Petrozza
Mille Petrozza
Miland "Mille" Petrozza is a German guitarist and singer. He is best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Kreator...
of Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
offered Frank a position with his band, after they lost their second guitarist, and Frank accepted. Angelripper went out looking for a replacement and found Michael Hoffman, formerly of German thrashers Assassin.
Changes in formation (1990-1997)
With this line-up, the album Better off DeadBetter off Dead (album)
Better off Dead is the fourth album by Sodom. The song "The Saw Is the Law" in an altered version that was released on the EP The Saw Is the Law.-Track listing:#"An Eye for an Eye" – 4:25#"Shellfire Defense" – 4:23#"The Saw Is the Law" – 4:11...
was released in 1990. During the South American tour however, Hoffman decided to stay in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and was therefore forced to quit. Andy Brings replaced him, and a new album was recorded, Tapping the Vein, with more of a death metal sound. This proved to be the last album with the drummer Witchhunter: He was kicked out of the band, and Atomic Steif formerly of both Holy Moses
Holy Moses
Holy Moses is a German thrash metal band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.-Formative years: 1980-1985:...
and Living Death
Living Death
Living Death was a German heavy metal band from Velbert, whose career spanned from the early 1980s until the early 1990s.-Biography:Living Death was formed in 1980 in Velbert, Germany by Reiner and Dieter Kelch, and Frank Fricke, starting out as a simple heavy metal band...
became his replacement behind the drum kit.
The group recorded the album, Get What You Deserve
Get What You Deserve
Get What You Deserve is the sixth album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. On this album Sodom incorporated a more punkish approach to their thrash metal style. The original cover featured an overweight thirtysomething male lying in the midst of a vandalized whorehouse, mutilated beyond...
. The death metal influences were out; the influence of punk came in. Get What You Deserve had an arguably grotesque
Grotesque
The word grotesque comes from the same Latin root as "Grotto", meaning a small cave or hollow. The original meaning was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century...
album cover (featuring a dead man shot and lying in his bed with a woman tied-up nearby), and many fans did not take to the band's new direction. This period also marked the beginning of less international visibility for the band as thrash lost its commercial viability for the remainder of the 1990s.
Angelripper also started a solo career doing metal impressions of drinking songs, German schlagers and even Christmas-type carols. A live album was recorded of the tour in support of the resulting album called Marooned - Live.
Masquerade in Blood
Masquerade in Blood
Masquerade in Blood is the seventh album by Sodom, released in 1995.-Track listing:# "Masquerade in Blood" – 3:19# "Gathering of Minds" – 4:16# "Fields of Honour" – 3:23# "Braindead" – 2:29# "Verrecke!" – 2:48# "Shadow of Damnation" – 2:57...
, in the same vein as the previous album, was released in 1995. Again another guitarist had to be found. The new choice, Strahli, did not stay very long with the band. He was arrested and imprisoned on drug-related matters, and the band had since lost contact with him, until January 2011, when they learned he had died in Düsseldorf. Atomic Steif also left and again Angelripper needed to search for new members. These were found: a guitarist in Bernemann and a drummer in Bobby Schottkowski. This line-up stabilized the band significantly and lasted until December 2010, when Schottkowski left.
Return to thrash metal (1999)
The album 'Til Death Do Us Unite'Til Death Do Us Unite
'Til Death Do Us Unite is the eighth album by Sodom. It had a controversial album cover, showing the bellies of a naked pregnant woman and an obese man pressing a human skull together. This album marked the beginning of return to thrash, but was more along the lines of thrash/crossover sound...
featured a controversial album cover, depicting a woman's pregnant belly and a man's beer gut pressing in a human skull together. This album marked the beginning of Sodom's return to thrash but was more along the lines of a thrash-crossover sound and had much in common with bands like Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
. It also spawned the song for which Sodom would make their most famous music video, the highly-controversial song "Fuck The Police." After this album, Sodom returned to the studio and released Code Red
Code Red (Sodom album)
Code Red is the ninth album by thrash metal band Sodom. On this album, Sodom returned to classic thrash metal which pleased many fans. It was also released as a two-disc limited edition with a Sodom tribute album called Homage to the Gods and as a two-disc edition with an Onkel Tom Angelripper's...
in 1999 which marked a full return to the Teutonic thrash metal sound of the 1980s, and it was met with praise from fans and press alike. A limited edition featured a bonus CD containing a tribute to Sodom album, Homage to the Gods. With 2001 came the release of M-16
M-16 (album)
M-16 is the tenth album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. The album is a concept album about the Vietnam War and is named after the rifle used by many U.S...
, a concept album about the Vietnam War, which took its title from the famed M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
assault rifle. A tour followed with the other two big German thrash metal bands Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
and Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
, but Sodom ended up going on its own halfway through the tour due to a feud between Destruction bassist Marcel Schirmer and Tom Angelripper. Destruction claimed Sodom ripped off their music and sound.
In 2003, a double live album was recorded in Bangkok, Thailand, titled One Night in Bangkok
One Night in Bangkok (album)
One Night in Bangkok is a live album by the German thrash metal band Sodom, recorded in Bangkok, Thailand.-Disc one:# "Among the Weirdcong" – 5:03# "The Vice of Killing" – 4:22# "Der Wachturm" – 3:04# "The Saw Is the Law" – 3:36# "Blasphemer" – 2:46...
. A new album simply titled Sodom
Sodom (album)
Sodom is the eleventh album by German thrash metal band Sodom released on 21 April 2006. The first pressing comes in a slipcase and includes a full-colour poster of the artwork...
was released in 2006, in the same vein as M-16. The title was chosen - as Angelripper explained it - because every band needs a self-titled album, and the band had never released one. The album was delayed however, because the DVD Lords of Depravity took more time to compose than initially thought.
In 2007, Tom was asked by the record label Steamhammer for any tracks to be released on the In The Sign Of Evil EP. Tom believed there were, and the label floated the idea to Tom to get ex-members Chris Witchhunter and Grave Violator (real name: Franz Josef Peppi) to re-record the EP with the bonus tracks. The result became The Final Sign of Evil
The Final Sign of Evil
The Final Sign of Evil is the twelfth album by German thrash metal band Sodom, the first to include the original Sodom line-up since 1985. The album features re-recorded versions of the tracks from In the Sign of Evil as well as seven songs that were originally written for In the Sign of Evil but...
. Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek died on 7 September 2008 from liver failure after a long battle with illness.
Recent activities (2009 onward)
In 2009, Sodom returned to the UK to play their first show in 20 years at Bloodstock Open AirBloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
.
In War and Pieces
In War and Pieces
-Personnel:Sodom* Tom Angelripper - Bass, vocals* Bernemann - Guitars* Bobby Schottkowski - DrumsProduction* Waldemar Sorychta - Producer* Eliran Kantor - Artwork...
, Sodom's latest album, was released in Europe on November 22, 2010, and released in North America on January 11, 2011. On November 30, 2010, it was announced that Bobby Schottkowski would be leaving the band, due to "personal and private problems" between Tom Angelripper and Schottkowski. On December 8, 2010, Markus "Makka" Freiwald was announced to be Sodom's new drummer.
Current line up
- Tom AngelripperTom AngelripperTom Angelripper is the founding member and main songwriter of the German thrash metal band Sodom.- Biography :...
(Thomas Such, Onkel Tom) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(Desperados) (1981–present) - Bernd "Bernemann" Kost - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(ex-Crows) (1996–present) - Markus "Makka" Freiwald - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2010–present)
Former members
Guitar- Frank Testegen - guitar (1983–1984, 2007)
- Josef Dominic - guitar (1984–1985, 2007)
- Michael WulfMichael WulfMichael "Destructor" Wulf was a German guitarist, well known for playing in German thrash metal bands, Sodom and Kreator. He died in 1993 after a motorcycle accident.- References :...
- guitar (later KreatorKreatorKreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
) (1985–1986) - Uwe Christophers - guitar (on tour in 1986)
- Frank Gosdzik - guitar (later Mystic (Bra) and KreatorKreatorKreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
) (1987–1989, special appearance in the December 28, 2006 concert in BochumBochumBochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
) - Uwe Baltrusch - guitar (on tour in 1989/1990) (also in Mekong DeltaMekong Delta (band)Mekong Delta is a German progressive/thrash metal band, formed in 1985.-History:The band was founded by a group of German metal musicians with the goal to 'musically outshine' all then-current, independent releases. The line-up and the history of the group was to be "the best kept secret in the...
, later House of Spirits) - Michael HoffmanMichael HoffmanMichael Lynn Hoffman is an American film director.-Life and career:Hoffman was born in Hawaii and grew up in Payette, Idaho, played basketball, and attended college at Boise State University. There he was elected as student body president of BSU...
- guitar (Assassin (Ger)) (1990) - Andy Brings - guitar (later Powergod) (1991–1995)
- Dirk Strahlimeier - guitar (1995–1996)
Drums
- Christian Dudek - drums (1983–1992, 2007) (deceased) (see also DestructionDestruction (band)Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
and BathoryBathory (band)Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
) - Guido Richter - drums (later Stahlträger, Assassin, Sacred Chao, Holy MosesHoly MosesHoly Moses is a German thrash metal band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.-Formative years: 1980-1985:...
, Living DeathLiving DeathLiving Death was a German heavy metal band from Velbert, whose career spanned from the early 1980s until the early 1990s.-Biography:Living Death was formed in 1980 in Velbert, Germany by Reiner and Dieter Kelch, and Frank Fricke, starting out as a simple heavy metal band...
, Brotós) - Bobby Schottkowski - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1997–2010)
Discography
- Obsessed by CrueltyObsessed by CrueltyObsessed by Cruelty is the 1986 debut album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. It was re-released together with In the Sign of Evil in 1988, and as picture vinyl in 2005 by Vinyl Maniacs/EMRmusic....
(1986) - Persecution ManiaPersecution ManiaPersecution Mania is the second album by Sodom. The album marked a drastic change of sound from proto-black metal to thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity...
(1987) - Agent OrangeAgent Orange (album)Agent Orange is the third album by German thrash metal band Sodom, their last with guitarist Frank Blackfire before he left the band and joined Kreator. The lyrical content delves deeply into mainman's Tom Angelripper's fascination with the Vietnam War, sporting a song dedicated to the ground...
(1989) - Better Off DeadBetter off Dead (album)Better off Dead is the fourth album by Sodom. The song "The Saw Is the Law" in an altered version that was released on the EP The Saw Is the Law.-Track listing:#"An Eye for an Eye" – 4:25#"Shellfire Defense" – 4:23#"The Saw Is the Law" – 4:11...
(1990) - Tapping the Vein (1992)
- Get What You DeserveGet What You DeserveGet What You Deserve is the sixth album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. On this album Sodom incorporated a more punkish approach to their thrash metal style. The original cover featured an overweight thirtysomething male lying in the midst of a vandalized whorehouse, mutilated beyond...
(1994) - Masquerade in BloodMasquerade in BloodMasquerade in Blood is the seventh album by Sodom, released in 1995.-Track listing:# "Masquerade in Blood" – 3:19# "Gathering of Minds" – 4:16# "Fields of Honour" – 3:23# "Braindead" – 2:29# "Verrecke!" – 2:48# "Shadow of Damnation" – 2:57...
(1995) - 'Til Death Do Us Unite'Til Death Do Us Unite'Til Death Do Us Unite is the eighth album by Sodom. It had a controversial album cover, showing the bellies of a naked pregnant woman and an obese man pressing a human skull together. This album marked the beginning of return to thrash, but was more along the lines of thrash/crossover sound...
(1997) - Code RedCode Red (Sodom album)Code Red is the ninth album by thrash metal band Sodom. On this album, Sodom returned to classic thrash metal which pleased many fans. It was also released as a two-disc limited edition with a Sodom tribute album called Homage to the Gods and as a two-disc edition with an Onkel Tom Angelripper's...
(1999) - M-16M-16 (album)M-16 is the tenth album by the German thrash metal band Sodom. The album is a concept album about the Vietnam War and is named after the rifle used by many U.S...
(2001) - SodomSodom (album)Sodom is the eleventh album by German thrash metal band Sodom released on 21 April 2006. The first pressing comes in a slipcase and includes a full-colour poster of the artwork...
(2006) - The Final Sign of EvilThe Final Sign of EvilThe Final Sign of Evil is the twelfth album by German thrash metal band Sodom, the first to include the original Sodom line-up since 1985. The album features re-recorded versions of the tracks from In the Sign of Evil as well as seven songs that were originally written for In the Sign of Evil but...
(2007) - In War and PiecesIn War and Pieces-Personnel:Sodom* Tom Angelripper - Bass, vocals* Bernemann - Guitars* Bobby Schottkowski - DrumsProduction* Waldemar Sorychta - Producer* Eliran Kantor - Artwork...
(2010)
External links
- Official website
- Artist page at Allmusic
- Tom Angelripper's official website (German)
- Hungarian fansite (English/Hungarian)
- MusicMight Biography