Sodom – The Arsonist
Sodom – The Arsonist
Steamhammer / SPV
Release Date: 27/06/2025
Review by Victor Augusto
9/10
I’m traveling back in time, more specifically to 1999. It was an interesting period of my teenage years when I was getting more into Heavy Metal stuff. That period of my life was also a bit harsh as I’ve mentioned plenty of times here, but in very rare times, luck was on my side. I remember one specific day when I found a Brazilian magazine called “Planet Metal” and there was a package of 3 editions being sold for the price of a single one. For those who were living in a place that was almost impossible to have access to any kind of Heavy Metal material, and also for those who had a very small budget at that time, finding these magazines was almost like winning in a lottery.
The great thing about those magazines is the CD they carry. It was like a compilation of bands that were being interviewed in that specific edition. I not only discovered incredible new bands from Brazil, but also could hear legendary bands that I couldn’t find albums to buy. Sodom was one of these cases. Every Metalhead in Brazil knows Sodom by its importance for the worldwide Thrash Metal music, but, at least in my case, I’ve never heard any of their songs until that. ‘Code Red’ was THE song in that CD that introduced Sodom to me. What a killer track. You can’t not love Sodom knowing them by this song and it’s not even close to being their most famous or popular song.
Here I am, 26 years later, having a masterpiece album, from the same band, in my hands to review. I could waste our time describing track by track as I do in a regular review, but I will try just to highlight why it’s one of the best releases of the year. First, I can say we have the best musical composition when Thrash Metal is the subject. Nothing new, just everything that Sodom helped to create, but being played in its best essence. ‘Battle Of Harvest Moon’, which opened the album after the short intro of ‘The Arsonist’ can make you also love the band in a first hearing, like ‘Code Red’ was able to make me love them, decades ago.
I can say what each member has the best here, too. Tom Angelripper with his remarkably aggressive voice is still impressive by his great vocal ranges. There is a guitar masterclass between Frank Blackfire and York Segatz, for who loves non-repetitive sequences of riffs and great solos. Everything is being highlighted by an organic drum of Toni Merkel and when I say organic, you can understand it as analogic recording that they indeed did for this album.
It’s like having the best of old recording with an extra punch of all the technology we have nowadays. Everything is precise! Everything is perfect! Everything is pure Sodom. The result is that we have no silly tracks made just to fill in the album here. Personally, I enjoy the heavy dark atmosphere of songs such as ‘Gun Without Groom’, but I can’t forget to mention the beautiful homage to the drummer Chris Witchunter, who passed away in 2008, in the song ‘Witchhunter’.
Just listen to “The Arsonist” entirely! You will have 13 sorry songs to be delighted bty and all of them sound like they received the best care by the band.The result is an album that shows Sodom in their best shape.
‘Taphephobia’ Official Lyric Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Arsonist
02. Battle Of Harvest Moon
03. Trigger Discipline
04. The Spirits That I Called
05. Witchhunter
06. Scavenger
07. Gun Without Groom
08. Taphephobia
09. Sane Insanity
10. A.W.T.F
11. Twilight Void
12. Obliteration Of The Aeons
13. Return To God In Parts
LINE-UP:
Tom Angelripper – Vocals, Bass
Frank Blackfire – Guitar
York Segatz – Guitar
Toni Merkel – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Victor Augusto and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
