Sodom

Sodom - Ace Of Spades (Motorhead Cover)

HISTORY:

Sodom is a German thrash metal band formed in 1981. Original line-up were Tom Angelripper, Chris Witchhunter and Aggressor. Receiving inspiration by bands such as Motörhead and Venom, they released two demos which led to a record deal with Steamhammer. Aggressor left the band shortly before releasing the In the Sign of Evil EP, and was replaced by Grave Violator, who did not last long himself. On the debut album Obsessed by Cruelty he was replaced by Destructor. However, after the release Destructor left the band to join Kreator.

There after their break-through album Persecution Mania was released with yet another guitarist, Frank Blackfire. A live album Mortal Way of Live followed. The next album made Sodom famous; Agent Orange was released in 1989. Since then, Sodom is one of the three big names of German Thrash metal; the others are Kreator and Destruction. Again a new guitarist was to be found as Blackfire also left the band to join Kreator. The replacement was found in Michael Hoffman.

In this line-up the Better Off Dead album was released in 1990. During the South American tour however, Hoffman decided to stay in Brazil and therefore was forced to quit. His replacement was found in Andy Brings and a new album was recorded, titled Tapping the Vein, which was more death metal influenced than before. This proved to be the last album with the drummer Witchhunter who quit because of lack of interest in metal music. Atomic Steif found his way behind the drumkit.

This line-up now, recorded the next album, Get What You Deserve. Out were the death metal influence, in came the hardcore influences. At this time Angelripper also started a solo carreer doing metal impressions of drinking songs, German schlagers and even Xmassy Carols. Another live album was recorded of the tour in support of this album called Marooned - Live.

In the same vein as the previous album, Masquerade in Blood was released in 1995. Again another guitarist was to be found. The new axeman was Sthrahli, but he did not stay very long with the band either; he was fired due to drugs problems. Also Atomic Steif left and again Angelripper needed to search for new members. These were found in the person of Bernemann on guitars and Bobby Schottkowski on drums.

The new album 'Til Death Do Us Unite featured a controversial album cover, depicting the belly a pregnant woman and a beer gut of a man pressing a human skull together. Apparently this line-up has stabilised the band significantly as this still the current line-up. In 1999 Code Red was released and formed a return to the sound of the 1980s thrash metal. A limited edition featured a bonus CD containing a tribute to Sodom album called Homage to the Gods. In the same vein, M-16 was released displaying Sodoms interest in the Vietnam War. The title of course refers to the automatic rifle M16). A tour followed with the other two big German thrash metal bands Kreator and Destruction.

In 2003, a double live album was recorded in Bangkok, titled One Night in Bangkok. In 2006 Sodom released their Album "Sodom" and after the release the band played a lot of shows all over the world.

In 2007 comes "The final Sign of Evil". On this record the original Line up with Chris Witchhunter, Grave Violator and Tom Angelripper acting very old school. In Wacken the band played a really special Set at the Wacken Open Air with Old Members like Andy Brings, Atomic Steif, Grave Violator and a lot of more. This show will be a part of the long waited second Part of the Lords of Depravity DVD.

Drummer Legend Chris Witchhunter died at age of 42 in September 2008. We still miss him!

CURRENT MEMBERS

Tom Angelripper - Vocals/Bass (Desperados)

Bobby Schottkowski - Drums (ex-Crows, ex-Tom Angelripper)

Bernemann - Guitars (ex-Angel Dust, ex-Crows)

LABEL

SPV GmbH Schallplatten, Produktion und Vertrieb Brüsseler Straße 14 | D-30539 Hannover | Germany Tel.: +49 (0)511 - 8709 - 0 Fax: +49 (0)511 - 8709 - 181

BOOKING

Fleischfinger@aol.com

SODOM

tom@sodomized.info bernemann@sodomized.info bobby@sodomized.info

ADMINISTRATION & AUTOGRAPHS

Martin Sosna Marderweg 19 | D-44892 Bochum | Germany martin@deathsquad.de IMPORTANT NOTE: For autographs please send a self-addressed and stamped envelope (DIN A5). http://www.myspace.com/sodom

Sodom - Blasphemer (Live)

Sodom
Genre(s)
Black/Speed/Thrash Metal
Lyrical theme(s)
Satan, blasphemy (early), loss, war, sorrow (now)
Origin Formed in Current label Status
Germany (Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia) 1982 Steamhammer Active
Current line-up
Tom Angelripper (Thomas Such) - Vocals, Bass (1982-) (Dezperadoz, Bassinvaders, Die Knappen)
Bobby Schottkowski - Drums (1997-) (Crows, Tom Angelripper, Randalica)
Bernemann (Bernd Kost) - Guitars (1997-) (Crows)
Former/past member(s)
Guitar:
- Aggressor (Frank Testegen) (1982-1984, also Vocals)
- Grave Violator (Josef "Peppi" Dominic) (1984-1985, 2007) (Wortmord)
- Destructor (Michael Wulf) (R.I.P. 1993, motorcycle accident) (1985-1986)
- Frank Blackfire (Frank Gosdzik) (1987-1989) (Mystic (Bra), Kreator, Blackfire)
- Michael "Micha" Hoffman (1990) (Assassin (Ger), Checker Patrol)
- Andy Brings (1991-1995) (Powergod)
- Strahli (Dirk Strahlimeier) (1995-1996) (Unwanted Youth)
Drums:
- Bloody Monster (Rainer Focke) (1982)
- Chris Witchhunter (Christian Dudeck) (R.I.P. 7th September 2008 "Decompensation of his organic system") (1982-1992, 2007)
- Atomic Steif (Guido Richter) (1992-1996) (Stahlträger, Assassin (Ger), Sacred Chao, Holy Moses (Ger), Living Death, Violent Force)
Additional notes
Sodom was formed by Thomas Such (v/b) and Frank Testegen (g) in 1982 in the Western German industrial town of Gelsenkirchen. Those guys, better known under their pseudonyms Angelripper and Aggressor, were mostly influenced by bands like Motörhead, Tank (UK), Raven (UK), and of course Venom.

Discography
Witching Metal Demo, 1982
Victims Of Death Demo, 1984
In the Sign of Evil EP, 1984
Obsessed by Cruelty Full-length, 1986
Expurse of Sodomy EP, 1987
Persecution Mania Full-length, 1987
Mortal Way of Live Video/VHS, 1988
Mortal Way of Live Live album, 1988
Agent Orange Full-length, 1989
Ausgebombt EP, 1989
Agent Orange Box Boxed set, 1990
Better Off Dead Full-length, 1990
Live Στο Ρόδον Live album, 1991
The Saw Is The Law EP, 1991
Sodomania Best of/Compilation, 1991
Tapping the Vein Full-length, 1992
Get What You Deserve (Promo) Single, 1993
Aber bitte mit Sahne EP, 1993
Live in der Zeche Carl Video/VHS, 1994
Get What You Deserve Full-length, 1994
Marooned Live Live album, 1994
Masquerade in Blood Full-length, 1995
Ten Black Years - Best Of Best of/Compilation, 1996
'Til Death Do Us Unite Full-length, 1997
Code Red Full-length, 1999
M-16 Full-length, 2001
One Night in Bangkok Live album, 2003
Lords of depravity Pt. 1 DVD, 2005
Sodom Full-length, 2006
The Final Sign of Evil Full-length, 2007
http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=419