Sodom (band)

Sodom
Sodom performing in 2022
Sodom performing in 2022
Background information
OriginGelsenkirchen, Germany
Genres
DiscographySodom discography
Years active1981–present
LabelsSteamhammer
MembersTom Angelripper
Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik
Yorck Segatz
Toni Merkel
Past membersFrank Testegen
Josef Dominic
Michael "Destructor" Wulf
Uwe Christophers
Uwe Baltrusch
Michael Hoffmann
Andy Brings
Dirk "Strahli" Strahlmeier
Christian "Witchhunter" Dudek
Atomic Steif
Bobby Schottkowski
Bernd "Bernemann" Kost
Markus "Makka" Freiwald
Stefan "Husky" Hüskens
Websitesodomized.info

Sodom is a German thrash metal band from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981.[2] They have gone through many lineup changes, with bassist/vocalist Tom Angelripper the only constant member. The band is currently composed of Angelripper, guitarists Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (who was a member of Sodom from 1987 to 1989 and rejoined in 2018) and Yorck Segatz, and drummer Toni Merkel. Sodom has been referred to as one of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal, along with Kreator, Destruction and Tankard.[3][4][5][6] Sodom heavily influenced the German black metal scene,[7] and is regarded as a pioneer of death metal.[6] Mike McPadden wrote that the most Venom-blackened of German "Three Kings" (Destruction and Kreator being the other two), Sodom further merged thrash and death metal into a "wicked and decadent sound."[8]

Sodom has released seventeen studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums and seven EPs. They achieved their first commercial success with their third studio album, Agent Orange (1989), which was one of the first thrash metal albums to enter the German album charts, where it reached number 36.[9] Their most recent studio album, Genesis XIX, was released on 27 November 2020.[10] Sodom is one of the best-selling thrash metal acts of all time, having sold over two million records.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ "The Saga of True Norwegian Black Metal". Vice. May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Concert Reviews – KREATOR / SODOM / DESTRUCTION". Metal-Rules.com. 24 January 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  3. ^ "German Thrash: The Teutonic Big 4: Tankard, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator". Metal Hall of Fame. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ^ "SODOM Frontman Explains Why A Big Four Of German Thrash Tour Won't Happen". Metal Injection. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Sodom – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "11 BANDS CONSIDERED PIONEERS OF DEATH METAL". Loudwire. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. ^ Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-313-34801-3.
  8. ^ McPadden, Mike (2012). If you like Metallica : here are over 200 bands, CDs, movies, and other oddities that you will love. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: Backbeat Books. p. 118.
  9. ^ "Sodom – Agent Orange". officialcharts.de. Retrieved 3 January 2015.[dead link‍]
  10. ^ "SODOM To Release 'Genesis XIX' Album In November; Cover Artwork And Track Listing Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  11. ^ "SPV: ROCK OF AGES – Bringing The best Of Europe To America". cuttingedgerocks.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Metal Metropolis – Sodom". metal-metropolis.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  13. ^ "Sodom Interview (Tom Angelripper)". thewelkin.net. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2015.