INTERVIEW: Before taking a break, Sodom releases ‘The Arsonist’
Image courtesy of Sodom / Provided by Atom Splitter PR with permission.
Sodom, one of Germany’s most well-respected thrash metal bands, is back with the new album The Arsonist, out now from SPV Recordings. The band, which has been going strong since 1981, recently released the debut single off the record, “Trigger Discipline,” a sonic feast that is equal parts brutal and engaging. A second single, “Taphephobia,” is also available.
Tom Angelripper, the bassist and vocalist for Sodom, has been with the band since the beginning, and he remains the only founding member still with the group. He has seen the history of the band throughout its many eras, watching how Sodom came to be considered one of Germany’s “Big Four,” alongside Kreator, Destruction and Tankard, according to press notes.
Recently Angelripper exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox on all things The Arsonist, including news that he will soon be taking a break from touring. Spoiler alert for American fans: There are no imminent plans for a North American tour. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How long has the band been working on The Arsonist?
We started working on new ideas right after the release of Genesis XIX. We don’t have a specific timeframe for when we’ll start composing. After the pandemic, we were obviously on the road a lot, playing gigs, so there wasn’t much time to write. But we kept collecting ideas and then arranged and improved the songs together in the rehearsal room. In between, we had rehearsed and recorded the songs for the 40 Years… album. When we finally got the option to submit a new album to the record company, things actually happened pretty quickly.
What inspired the single “Trigger Discipline”?
The story is about a sniper who killed hundreds of enemy soldiers during World War II. After the war, he realized he enjoyed this activity and continued shooting people with his rifle in civilian life. He later called himself a monster who no longer had the right to live. He killed his mother because she had given birth to him, and then he executed himself. This story is based on a true event.
Do you feel that the new tunes fit in with what Sodom has done in the past, or are you trying to pave a new way?
No, we’re not trying anything new — quite the opposite. This time we even went into a studio with an analog tape machine to record the drums. Some of the songs go in different directions, but the typical Sodom trademarks are always retained. We don’t experiment. We’re quite pragmatic and not interested in what’s currently popular. We’re also always in close contact with our fans and therefore know exactly what’s expected of us.
How do you keep your voice so strong?
I don’t have a specific recipe or therapy for this. Your voice changes as you get older, but I always try to counteract it and maintain those typical Sodom trademarks. I’m still fortunate enough to be able to sing in three octaves, which makes me very flexible when we’re composing and recording in the studio or rehearsal room.
What is the key to Sodom’s success? How has the band been around for so many decades?
I don’t think we’ve ever developed in a different direction. From the very beginning, we’ve only made the music we loved so much. We’ve always ignored all the trends that have emerged over the decades. There’s never been anyone telling us what to do. I think our fanbase has always appreciated that.
Do you hope to tour North America with the new album?
No. I’ll be taking a break starting in July and focusing on other things. My family, my old friends, my hobbies and my passions all need to be taken care of. This break will be indefinite, so there are no plans for when I’ll resume.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Sodom’s new album is The Arsonist, which is now available from SPV Recordings. Click here for more information.
