Sodom

Biography

Sodom is a German thrash metal band from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1982. They have gone through various line-up changes. Bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Tom Angelripper' Such is the only constant member. The band is currently composed of Such, guitarists Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (a member from 1987 to 1989 and again since 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. Sodom influenced the German black metal scene, and is regarded as a death metal pioneer. Referred to as the most Venom-blackened of Germany's "Three Kings" (Destruction and Kreator are the other two), Sodom merged thrash and death metal into a "wicked and decadent sound."
Sodom has released sixteen studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums and seven EPs. They achieved commercial success with their third studio album, Agent Orange×Agent Orange1 June 1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Agent Orange6:042Tired and Red5:263Incest4:404Remember the Fallen4:215Magic Dragon6:006Exhibition Bout3:367Ausgebombt3:058Baptism of Fire4:049Don’t Walk Away2:57 (1989), one of the first thrash metal albums to enter the German album charts, reaching number 36. Their most recent studio album, The Arsonist×The Arsonist25 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Arsonist1:022Battle of Harvest Moon4:123Trigger Discipline3:524The Spirits That I Called2:575Witchhunter3:136Scavenger4:017Gun Without Groom4:438Taphephobia3:429Sane Insanity4:0310A.W.T.F.3:5711Twilight Void4:4412Obliteration of the Aeons3:5313Return to God in Parts4:28, was released on 27 June 2025. Sodom is one of the best-selling thrash metal acts of all time, having sold over two million records.

Early years and transition from black metal to thrash metal (1982–1989)

Sodom was formed in 1982, originally consisting of Tom "Angelripper" Such, Bloody Monster, Arius "Blasphemer", and Aggressor. Reportedly named after the Venom song "One Thousand Days in Sodom", the band was initiated by Tom as an attempt to avoid working at coal mines in his home town of Gelsenkirchen. The band's lineup solidified itself when Chris Witchhunter (Christian Dudek) from Essen replaced Bloody Monster on drums, bringing songwriting experience from his time in school, and leading the band's activity after Arius was fired. Taking inspiration from bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Venom, Kiss, Tank, Accept, Raven, Rainbow, AC/DC and UFO, the group continued as a three-piece akin to Motörhead and released two demos which led to a record deal with Steamhammer. Aggressor left the band shortly before the band released the In the Sign of Evil EP, which is generally regarded as an important early black metal release), and was replaced by Grave Violator, who himself left following the recording of In the Sign of Evil. Michael "Destructor" Wulf was found as a replacement, after which the band recorded Obsessed by Cruelty (1986), their full-length debut, which was in a similar style to In the Sign of Evil. Wulf's tenure in the band was short-lived, and he briefly joined Kreator after leaving Sodom; he died in a motorcycle accident in 1993.
Wulf was replaced by Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik. Frank convinced Tom that thrash metal was moving beyond horror/occult/satanic themes of bands like Venom in favor of political, societal, and war themes. Tom was already interested in various wars yet remained a peacenik. This resulted in Gosdzik's full-length debut with the band, 1987's Persecution Mania. The new lyrical approach and increased musicianship on the part of Frank gave the band great acclaim; it was also the introduction of the band's mascot Knarrenheinz, who appeared for the first time on the cover of Persecution Mania). They subsequently toured Europe with Whiplash, Destruction, and Coroner. After that, the band returned to the studio to make another album. The resulting album, Agent Orange×Agent Orange1 June 1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Agent Orange6:042Tired and Red5:263Incest4:404Remember the Fallen4:215Magic Dragon6:006Exhibition Bout3:367Ausgebombt3:058Baptism of Fire4:049Don’t Walk Away2:57 (1989), sold 100,000 copies in Germany alone. It was this album that made Sodom famous, giving them worldwide critical acclaim, and secured their place alongside Kreator and Destruction as one of the great Teutonic thrash metal bands. To date, Agent Orange has sold more than any other German thrash metal album in the world. Sodom toured with a then-unknown Sepultura in support of the album.
This period was marked by tensions within the band: Tom and Chris descended further into alcoholism, while Frank had grown tired of his compositions being performed poorly live. Mille Petrozza offered Frank a position in Kreator, which Frank accepted. Frank was replaced by Michael Hoffmann, formerly of German band Assassin.

Changes in formation (1990–1996)

With a new line-up, the album Better off Dead×Better Off Dead1 October 1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1An Eye for an Eye4:252Shellfire Defense4:233The Saw Is the Law4:114Turn Your Head Around3:235Capture the Flag6:086Cold Sweat3:117Bloodtrails4:458Never Healing Wound2:269Better Off Dead3:4410Resurrection4:5011Tarred and Feathered3:0212Stalinorgel4:41 was released in 1990, and another grueling tour in Europe followed, playing with bands like Acid Drinkers, Destruction, Accu§er, Running Wild, Coroner, Tankard and Atrocity. During the South American tour, Hoffmann decided to stay in Brazil and was therefore forced to quit. Andy Brings replaced him, and a new album was recorded, Tapping the Vein×Tapping the Vein1 August 1992 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Body Parts3:022Skinned Alive2:273One Step Over the Line5:074Deadline3:525Bullet in the Head3:016The Crippler4:107Wachturm3:478Tapping the Vein5:129Back to War3:1410Hunting Season4:2811Reincarnation7:49 (1992), with elements of death metal. This proved to be the last album with the drummer Witchhunter×Witchhunter7 May 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Witchhunter3:132Trigger Discipline3:52: He was kicked out of the band, and Atomic Steif (formerly of both Holy Moses and Living Death) became his replacement behind the drum kit.
On 15 September 1991, Sodom played in Sofia, Bulgaria. The show was notable for the band because the audience of fifteen thousand people was one of the largest they had ever as a headliner. It was also notable for the audience because it was the first show of a Western metal band in Bulgaria after the fall of communism (the only remotely similar event being a performance of the hard rock band Uriah Heep in 1987).
The group's next album, Get What You Deserve×Get What You Deserve10 January 1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracksA1Get What You Deserve3:44A2Jabba the Hut2:29A3Jesus Screamer1:42A4Delight in Slaying2:40A5Die stumme Ursel3:47A6Freaks of Nature2:07A7Eat Me3:22A8Unbury the Hatchet2:28B1Into Perdition2:46B2Sodomized2:43B3Fellows in Misery2:18B4Tribute to Moby Dick4:21B5Silence Is Consent2:30B6Erwachet!2:17B7Gomorrah2:19B8Angel Dust2:40 (1994), introduced punk-infused sound. Get What You Deserve had an arguably grotesque album cover (featuring a dead man shot and lying in his bed with a woman tied-up nearby), and many fans did not take to the band's new direction. This period also marked the beginning of less international visibility for the band as thrash lost its commercial viability for the remainder of the 1990s, due to the rising popularity of grunge and alternative rock. Angelripper also started a solo career doing metal impressions of drinking songs, German Schlagers and even Christmas-type carols. A live album was recorded of the tour in support of the resulting album called Marooned – Live.
Masquerade in Blood added groove metal to the group's evolving blend of crossover thrash and death metal. It was released in 1995 and the update of their style was successful. Again another guitarist had to be found. The new choice, Strahli, did not stay very long with the band. He was arrested and imprisoned on drug-related matters, and the band had since lost contact with him, until January 2011, when they learned that he had died in Düsseldorf. Atomic Steif also left and again Angelripper needed to search for new members. These were found: a guitarist in Bernemann and a drummer in Bobby Schottkowski. This line-up stabilized the band significantly and lasted until December 2010, when Schottkowski left.

Return to thrash metal (1997–2009)

Sodom's eighth studio album 'Til Death Do Us Unite (1997) spawned the song for which Sodom would make their most famous music video, the highly-controversial song "Fuck the Police". After this album, Sodom returned to the studio and released Code Red×Code Red31 May 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro0:482Code Red3:553What Hell Can Create3:314Tombstone3:555Liquidation2:446Spiritual Demise2:517Warlike Conspiracy2:498Cowardice4:169The Vice of Killing4:2110Visual Buggery3:1311Book Burning2:3412The Wolf & The Lamb3:1813Addicted to Abstinence2:06 in 1999 which marked a full return to the Teutonic thrash metal sound of the 1980s, and it was met with praise from fans and press alike. A limited edition featured a bonus CD containing a tribute to Sodom album, Homage to the Gods. With 2001 came the release of M-16, a concept album about the movie Apocalypse Now, which took its title from the famed M16 assault rifle.
In 2003, a double live album was recorded in Bangkok, Thailand, titled One Night in Bangkok×One Night in Bangkok28 July 2003 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 25 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Among the Weirdcong5:032The Vice of Killing4:223Wachturm3:044The Saw Is the Law3:365Blasphemer2:466Sodomized2:567Remember the Fallen4:178I Am the War4:129Eat Me!2:5410Masquerade in Blood2:5311M-164:3112Agent Orange5:4313Outbreak of Evil3:34Disc 21Sodomy and Lust5:322Napalm in the Morning6:163Fuck the Police3:194Tombstone4:085Witching Metal2:496The Enemy Inside4:347Die stumme Ursel2:508Ausgebombt4:369Code Red4:0710Ace of Spades2:4411Stalinhagel8:0112Among the Weirdcong. A new album simply titled Sodom was released in 2006, in the same vein as M-16. The title was chosen – as Angelripper explained it – "because every band needs a self-titled album", and the band had never released one. The album was delayed however, because the DVD Lords of Depravity took more time to compose than initially thought.
In 2007, Tom was asked by the record label Steamhammer for any tracks to be released on the In the Sign of Evil EP. Tom believed there were, and the label floated the idea to Tom to get former members Chris Witchhunter and Grave Violator (real name: Franz Josef "Peppi" Dominik) to re-record the EP with the bonus tracks. The result became The Final Sign of Evil. Chris "Witchhunter×Witchhunter7 May 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Witchhunter3:132Trigger Discipline3:52" Dudek died on 7 September 2008 from liver failure after a long battle with illness. Sodom played at Wacken Open Air in August 2007.
In 2009, Sodom returned to the UK to play their first show in the country in 20 years at Bloodstock Open Air.

Markus "Makka" Freiwald-era (2010–2017)

Sodom's thirteenth studio album, In War and Pieces×In War and Pieces19 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1In War and Pieces4:112Hellfire3:073Through Toxic Veins4:444Nothing Counts More Than Blood3:495Storm Raging Up5:086Feigned Death Throes3:597Soul Contraband3:518God Bless You5:119The Art of Killing Poetry4:3910Knarrenheinz3:1711Styptic Parasite5:14, was released in Europe on 22 November 2010, and released in North America on 11 January 2011. On 30 November 2010, it was announced that Bobby Schottkowski would be leaving the band, due to "personal and private problems" between Tom Angelripper and Schottkowski. On 8 December 2010, Markus "Makka" Freiwald was announced to be Sodom's new drummer. They performed at Wacken Open Air in 2011.
In late January 2012, Sodom began writing their fourteenth studio album, which they had planned to record in May 2012 for a late summer release. On 17 December 2012, the band announced the album would be released on 29 April 2013. The album is titled Epitome of Torture×Epitome of Torture26 April 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1My Final Bullet4:402S.O.D.O.M.3:463Epitome of Torture3:314Stigmatized2:565Cannibal4:196Shoot Today – Kill Tomorrow4:017Invocating the Demons4:258Katjuscha3:439Into the Skies of War3:5110Tracing the Victim4:4611Waterboarding5:0612Splitting the Atom4:28 and features 13 tracks. The album was released in Germany on 26 April, and in the US on 7 May.
In November 2014, Sodom released the EP Sacred Warpath×Sacred Warpath28 November 2014 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sacred Warpath5:452The Saw Is the Law (live)4:563City of God (live)5:164Stigmatized (live)3:05 as a preview of their fifteenth studio album. The EP contains one original studio track, and live versions of three previously released songs.
On 9 June 2016, Sodom announced their fifteenth studio album Decision Day×Decision Day19 August 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11In Retribution6:142Rolling Thunder4:223Decision Day4:034Caligula4:015Who Is God?4:356Strange Lost World4:597Vaginal Born Evil5:158Belligerence4:009Blood Lions3:1710Sacred Warpath5:3411Refused to Die4:2712Predatory Instinct4:44Disc 21The Final Bullet4:532Outbreak of Evil3:403Surfin’ Bird / The Saw Is the Law6:504M-165:315Nuclear Winter5:06 on their Facebook page. It was released on August 26 of that year.
Sodom released the compilation album, Demonized×Demonized1 September 2017 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Devil’s Attack4:322Witching Metal3:123Life From Hell3:504Poisoned Blood4:355Witchhammer3:396Devil’s Attack3:187Let’s Fight3:038Victims of Death4:449Life From Hell2:5910Poisoned Blood3:2111Satan’s Conjuration2:5812Witching Metal3:14, on 1 September 2017. Available only on cassette and 12" vinyl, it features the band's first two demo recordings, Witching Metal from 1982 and Victims of Death from 1984.
Shortly after the release of Decision Day, Angelripper stated that Sodom had "some ideas for [their] next album which [they] want to bring out in 2018."

Reunion with Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik, series of EPs and Genesis XIX (2017–2021)

On 3 December 2017, Sodom announced that they would reunite with three of their former guitarists Josef "Grave Violator" Dominic (who performed on In the Sign of Evil), Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (Persecution Mania and Agent Orange) and Andy Brings (Tapping the Vein and Get What You Deserve) during their 35th anniversary show on 26 December in Bochum, Germany, marking the first time since Dominic, Gosdzik and Brings left the band in 1985, 1989, and 1995, respectively, that either guitarist had performed live with Sodom. Their previous performances were at Wacken in 2007. They performed three songs separate from one another's appearances from the respective albums they appeared on.
On 5 January 2018, Angelripper announced his partings from Bernemann and Makka "to pave the way for new challenges." He then said that he would introduce the new members on 7 April at the 2018 edition of the Full Metal Mountain festival, and that they would work on a new album together. Bernemann and Makka later said that they were fired from the band via WhatsApp without Angelripper listening to the new material they were working on for the band's next album. On 22 January 2018, Angelripper announced that he had expanded the band's line-up as a four piece. He was rejoined by guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik and added Stefan "Husky" Hüskens and Yorck Segatz as the band's new drummer and second guitarist respectively. On 26 February 2018, Sodom cancelled their appearance at the Full Metal Mountain festival "due to the short-term change of line-up and the restructuring of my band Sodom", as explained by Angelripper. He then said that the time was "simply too short to put the new line-up in a solid live set". The new line-up of the band made their live debut on 18 May at the 2018 edition of the Rock Hard Festival. Sodom also participated in the 2018 installment of the MTV Headbangers Ball European Tour with Death Angel, Suicidal Angels and Exodus from late November to mid-December. This new line-up recorded the EPs Partisan (2018) and Out of the Frontline Trench (2019).
On 13 January 2020, drummer Stefan "Husky" Hüskens departed the band due to "some changes at [his] full-time job, as well as a few other matters", and would not return in the future. He was replaced by Toni Merkel.
On 12 June 2020, Sodom announced that they had begun recording their sixteenth studio album, entitled Genesis XIX×Genesis XIX25 November 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Blind Superstition1:02A2Sodom & Gomorrah4:06A3Euthanasia3:54B1Genesis XIX7:09B2Nicht mehr mein Land4:29B3Glock 'n' Roll5:02Disc 2C1The Harponeer7:10C2Dehumanized3:53C3Occult Perpetrator4:53D1Waldo & Pigpen6:25D2Indoctrination3:10D3Friendly Fire3:36, at Woodhouse Studio in Hagen, Germany with producer Siggi Bemm. Mixing of the album was completed in August 2020. A month later, it was announced that the album would be released on 27 November.
On 11 May 2021, Sodom announced an EP titled Bombenhagel×Bombenhagel20 August 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Bombenhagel6:062Coup de grace3:063Pestiferous Posse5:05, containing a re-recorded version of the song "Bombenhagel" from their 1987 album Persecution Mania×Persecution Mania1 December 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Nuclear Winter5:252Electrocution3:143Iron Fist2:434Persecution Mania3:385Enchanted Land3:596Procession to Golgatha2:017Christ Passion6:128Conjuration3:429Bombenhagel5:0910Outbreak of Evil3:3211Sodomy and Lust5:1312The Conqueror3:3013My Atonement6:06 as well as two new tracks, was set to be released on 20 August.

40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom and The Arsonist (2021–2025)

In a December 2021 interview with Rockman, Tom Angelripper revealed that Sodom had begun writing new material for their next album. A month later, Sodom was announced as one of the bands to have its contract with SPV/Steamhammer Records renewed. In May 2022, Angelripper said that the band's new album would be released in 2023; he later stated that it would not be released until 2024. Angelripper confirmed in September 2024 that the album was finished for a late 2024 or early 2025 release. The resulting album, titled The Arsonist×The Arsonist25 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Arsonist1:022Battle of Harvest Moon4:123Trigger Discipline3:524The Spirits That I Called2:575Witchhunter3:136Scavenger4:017Gun Without Groom4:438Taphephobia3:429Sane Insanity4:0310A.W.T.F.3:5711Twilight Void4:4412Obliteration of the Aeons3:5313Return to God in Parts4:28, was released on 27 June 2025.
To coincide with the band's 40th anniversary, Sodom released the compilation album 40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom on 28 October 2022. The set includes one song from each of the band's studio albums between Obsessed by Cruelty×Obsessed by CrueltyMay 1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro (The Rebirth)0:552Deathlike Silence5:183Brandish the Sceptre3:004Proselytism Real3:265Equinox3:386Volcanic Slut3:217Obsessed by Cruelty5:068Fall of Majesty Town4:069Nuctemeron3:0310Pretenders to the Throne2:3911Witchhammer1:46 and Genesis XIX×Genesis XIX25 November 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Blind Superstition1:02A2Sodom & Gomorrah4:06A3Euthanasia3:54B1Genesis XIX7:09B2Nicht mehr mein Land4:29B3Glock 'n' Roll5:02Disc 2C1The Harponeer7:10C2Dehumanized3:53C3Occult Perpetrator4:53D1Waldo & Pigpen6:25D2Indoctrination3:10D3Friendly Fire3:36, in addition to "Sepulchral Voice" from the In the Sign of Evil EP. The band released another EP, 1982, on 10 November 2023, which includes both the title track and re-recordings of the band's early songs.
In March 2024, the band participated in the Hell's Heroes music festival, which took place at White Oak Music Hall in Houston. They co-headlined with Queensrÿche.
On 20 July 2024, Sodom were part of the Klash of the Ruhrpott festival, which took place at Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. This show marked the first time and the long awaited union of all of the "Teutonic Big Four" bands performing on the same stage.

Touring hiatus and future plans (2025–present)

In January 2025, Tom Angelripper expressed his desire to slow down the band's touring for the foreseeable future for personal and business reasons, and was uncertain of his return to live performances. This indicated that following the release of The Arsonist, Sodom would go on an immediate and indefinite hiatus. On 31 August 2025, former drummer Guido "Atomic Steif" Richter died at the age of 57. His death was confirmed on 6 September 2025.
In February 2026, Angelripper confirmed that, despite no longer playing live, Sodom will continue to release new music: "We have an option [for a new album] with [our longtime record label] SPV. That is another thing. They wanna have a new album. I don't know when, but I think in the next one or two years we're talking about a new album."

Musical style and influences

In the early days, Sodom's lyrics focused on Satanic and occult themes, but since Persecution Mania, most of their songs have covered topics based on, inspired by, or related to the concepts of war, politics, fascism and world history. Some of their songs have also covered topics dealing with religion, rape or sexual intercourse, often presented in a humorous light. Their political-related lyrics had led some people to think that the band was militarist, but on closer observation the listener would find the lyrics actually being anti-war. In an interview with Metalkings.com, Tom Angelripper said: "Why are we writing about war? Because we don't want war. We wanna describe how bad the war is." The chorus of the song "Ausgebombt×AusgebombtSeptember 1989 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Ausgebombt (German version)3:072Don’t Walk Away3:003Incest (live)4:28" also gives a very clear message: "No trade with death, No trade with arms, Dispense the war, Learn from the past."
Sodom has been influenced or inspired by a variety of music, including AC/DC, Accept, Anvil, Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Fates Warning, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kiss, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Mercyful Fate, Motörhead, Pink Floyd, Queen, Rainbow, Santana, Saxon, Scorpions, Slade, Slayer, Tank, Thin Lizzy, UFO, Uriah Heep, Steve Vai, Venom and Frank Zappa.

Legacy and influence

Sodom has influenced numerous metal acts such as Burzum, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Tranquility, Deicide, Enslaved, Evildead, Evile, Incantation, Mayhem, Morbid Angel, Necrodeath, Power Trip, Necromantia, Obituary, Rotting Christ, Sepultura and Tsjuder.
In 2025, Zahra Huselid of Screen Rant included the band in the site's list of "10 Best Thrash Metal Bands Who Weren't The Big Four".

Band members

Current

Tom "Angelripper" Such — bass (1982–present), vocals (1984–present)
Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik — lead guitar (1986–1989, 2018–present)
Yorck Segatz — rhythm guitar (2018–present)
Toni Merkel — drums (2020–present)