German thrash metal pioneers SODOM have released the official music video for the song “1982 (Remix)”. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming EP, “1982”, due on November 10 via SPV/Steamhammer
SODOM frontman Thomas “Angelripper” Such said: “These days we’d probably compose those songs differently and arrange them in a more contemporary style. But we see this EP as a little journey back in time to recapture the atmosphere of the early eighties. For us, it’s about remembering those wild years. Back then, people hated bands like MOTÖRHEAD or VENOM. But we didn’t give a shit about their opinion; we wanted to shock and outrage.”
Flashback to spring 1982, Essen, Stauderstraße in the Altenessen district, a small musty rehearsal room in an industrial wasteland area. Three long-haired hopefuls have tuned their instruments and are hard at work, recording their first demo tape at top volume. The track they’re cutting is called “Witching Metal” and turns into bludgeoning thrash metal of the purest variety.
Angelripper said: “Basically, we chose the wrong key, but we then weren’t about musical correctness, we were all about attitude. We were against the establishment, were in trouble with our teachers and training supervisors because, in their opinion, we wore the wrong clothes and listened to the wrong kind of music. At vocational college, I was the only one into metal. All the others listened to New Wave or Neue Deutsche Welle.”
That’s 41 years ago, but the influence of that formative era still affects the present, which is why Tom and SODOM wrote the track “1982”, recalling the band’s first steps both musically and lyrically. Now, “1982”, as well as re-recordings of their early songs “Witching Metal”, “Victims Of The Death”, “Let’s Fight In The Darkness Of Hell” and “Equinox” have been immortalized on vinyl and some on CD for the first time. And as any self-respecting, dynamic band would, they’ve also scheduled a tour in the spirit of that early SODOM phase in 2023 and 2024.
SODOM “1982” track listing:
01. 1982 (Remix)
02. Witching Metal
03. Victims Of Death
04. Let’s Fight In The Darkness Of Hell
05. Equinox
In October 2022, SODOM marked their 40th anniversary with the release of the album “40 Years At War – The Greatest Hell Of Sodom” through Steamhammer/SPV. This special LP featured a re-recorded selection of one song from each of their previous studio albums, showcasing the band’s enduring talent. The album, presented on both CD and a vinyl double LP, boasted an impactful martial cover design created by Eliran Kantor, known for his work with KREATOR, TESTAMENT, GWAR, and others. These 17 tracks were all freshly recorded by SODOM‘s current lineup, consisting of Tom Angelripper (vocals/bass), Frank Blackfire (guitar), Yorck Segatz (guitar), and Toni Merkel (drums).
Their album “Genesis XIX,” released in November 2020 via Entertainment One (eOne) in North America and Steamhammer/SPV in Europe, was recorded by Siggi Bemm and masterfully mastered by Patrick W. Engel. The album’s cover art was crafted by none other than Joe Petagno, renowned for his iconic work with MOTÖRHEAD.