Cover picture by Monsterpics.

In the years between the release of 2016’s «Decision Day» and the upcoming «Genesis XIX», German thrash legends Sodom went through quite a few changes. The year 2018 had just began and things did not look good for Sodom, as co-founder, bassist, and vocalist Tom Angelripper cut ties with guitarist Bernemann and drummer Makka, explaining that “to obviate a possible routine setting which would make it impossible to continue our creative work optimally, I would like to start all over again with fresh and hungry musicians.” Shortly after, the announcement of a new line-up came, with Husky (Asphyx and Desaster) on drums, and Yorck Segatz (Beyondition) and the returning Frank Blackfire on guitars, turning the band into a quartet for the first time since its inception in 1982. As Angelripper explained then, “two guitarists allow us much more possibilities live, so we will be able to play tracks in future that we weren’t able to perform as a trio,” further adding that the geographic origin of the new members was a deciding factor, “I want guys from the Ruhr, who share my background, with whom I can work and rehearse consistently.” In the months that followed, the band returned to their rehearsal room of old, “exactly where it all started back in 1982!” as Angelripper described it, adding that “there’s a real team spirit again, we’re having a great time together, every one of us is interested in everything and – really important! – everybody is there for everybody else.” The first studio outing of the new line-up would soon follow by way of the «Partisan» EP, which you can hear at the end of this piece.

Almost a year to the day of the release of «Partisan», the band would release yet another EP with the same formation, entitled «Out of the Frontline Trench», one meant to forge “an arch between (Sodom’s) past, present and future” and which can also be heard at the end of this piece. It would also provide fans the first insight into «Genesis XIX», with the original version of the title track appearing in the the EP. Unfortunately, a couple of months later the band would lose the recently joined drummer Husky due to changes in his professional life. With Toni Merkel (also of Frank Blackfire’s solo project) joining in his place, the band soon set out to record «Genesis XIX», which Angelripper describes as “one of the toughest and most diverse studio recordings that Sodom have ever released.” Its first single, «Sodom & Gomorrah» can be heard below in a lyric video created by Ingo Spörl for Hard Media.

Due to new drummer’s Toni Merkel past as a producer, the band was “largely autonomous during the production” of the album, an important factor because, as Angelripper puts it, “we use neither digital amps nor plug-ins but played all the guitar parts using proper Marshall tube amps.”

«Genesis XIX» is set for release on November 27 through Steamhammer on cd and vinyl format, with pre-orders available here.

«Partisan» was released on November 23, 2018, through Steamhammer. It can be ordered digitally here.

«Out of the Frontline Trench» was released on November 22, 2019, through Steamhammer. It can be ordered digitally here.