By Tim Bolitho-Jones
Teutonic thrashers Sodom had a minor line-up controversy back in January of last year. Frontman Tom Angelripper fired long-time members Bernemann Kost and Makka Friewald and reorganised the band as a four-piece. The most notable change was the return of Frank ‘Blackfire’ Gosdzik, who played guitar on their classic ‘Persecution Mania’ and ‘Agent Orange’ albums and since then, Sodom have been very much focused on their old-school material.
This was keenly felt when they toured the UK for the Headbangers Ball Tour when the setlist was made up almost entirely of their older songs. There was nothing from latter-era albums like ‘M-16’ or ‘Decision Day,’ so it’s hard not to shake the impression that Sodom might be getting too keen on reliving their early days.
And just to dispel that misconception, they’ve included a re-recording of ‘Agent Orange’ on this EP. In fairness, it’s still a fearsome neck-wrecker and hearing it beefed up with 21st century production values is great. However, it’s followed by a live recording of ‘Bombenhagel’, which originally came out in 1987. Again, it sounds like it was a terrific show but there’s a real danger that they’re turning into a patch jacketed Grandpa, refusing to move from an armchair all Christmas and telling the Dust Bolts of the world that they don’t know how lucky they’ve got it. Thank God then for the opening three songs.
On ‘Genesis 19’, ‘Down On Your Knees’ and the title track, Sodom sound hungry again. The first is classic thrash, inspired by a passage in the bible about the destruction of Sodom (the city) and Gomorrah. Blackfire still has the uncanny ability to craft ominous guitar riffs and then switch to pit-igniting mayhem a second later. ‘Down On Your Knees’ is equally venomous, while ‘Out Of The Frontline Trench’ starts with a slight curveball in the form of a spoken word introduction, before rapidly turning into all out carnage.
It’s a bit familiar yes and truth be told, the line-up changes haven’t really done anything to change Sodom’s signature sound, but it does offer some reassurance that they won’t be living on past glories forever. At least until you go online and realize they’re playing ‘Agent Orange’ in full at Wacken next year.
- ‘Out Of The Frontline Trench’ is released on 22 November. You can get your a copy HERE.
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