Defenders Of The Faith, le forum Metal

SODOM bassist/vocalist and sole remaining original member Thomas "Angelripper" Such has parted ways with guitarist Bernd "Bernemann" Kost and drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald.

Says Such: "After much thought and reflection, I have decided on this difficult step to pave the way for new challenges.

"SODOM have always lived off the commitment and passion of everybody involved. Makka was part of the band for almost eight years, Bernemann even for more than twenty. To obviate a possible routine setting in which would make it impossible to continue our creative work optimally, I would like to start all over again with fresh and hungry musicians. At the same time, I would like to say thank you to Bernemann and Makka for many successful years in which we performed fantastic shows and released a number of real metal manifestos."

Irrespective of this lineup change, all scheduled SODOM shows will take place from April 2018 as announced. Tom is set to introduce his new comrades-in-arms at the Full Metal Mountain festival. Whether SODOM will continue to operate as a trio or perhaps become a quartet in future remains unclear. Tom says: "I haven't really made up my mind in this respect; I'm open to all options. I will now install the band's new foundation pillars and look around for new musicians. One thing is already clear: SODOM will become even stronger!"

Along with his new bandmates, Tom will begin work on the upcoming SODOM album — to be released on Steamhammer/SPV — as soon as possible. Tom says: "SPV also look forward to our future collaboration and can expect a totally motivated band."

SPV/STEAMHAMMER PRESS RELEASE

TOM ANGELRIPPER ANNOUNCES NEW LINE-UP
German cult thrash act now a quartet, Frank Blackfire returns
New single out in summer 2018, album to follow in spring 2019

While rumours are still flying thick and fast in the media, Tom Angelripper has already announced the new line-up of his band Sodom: Husky (Asphyx, Desaster) is set to man the drum kit, Frank Blackfire (ex-Sodom, ex-Kreator, Frank Blackfire, Assassin) and Yorck Segatz (Beyondition) have been enlisted on guitars. Sodom have already released seminal albums such as Persecution Mania, the live cut Mortal Way Of Live and the highly successful Agent Orange with Frank Blackfire. As he had hinted at the beginning of the year, Tom has opted for a line-up featuring two guitarists, an absolute novelty for Sodom. “Two guitarists allow us much more possibilities live, so we will be able to play tracks in future that we weren’t able to perform as a trio,” the Sodom vocalist/bassist explains his motives. In line with these new possibilities, the thrash act has already started to put together a setlist for the upcoming shows with all important classics as well as rare numbers that had never or only rarely been heard at their gigs. Says Tom: “I can promise that we will really let it rip in future.”

In Frank Blackfire, Yorck Segatz and Husky, Tom has consciously gone for musicians from his own background. “It’s common knowledge that all three are exceptional instrumentalists and that heavy metal is their life. But Sodom is also about getting on a personal level. The new band members are all dyed-in-the-wool Sodom fans and all live in Essen. Need I say more?”

While the guys have just moved into their new rehearsal room (Tom: “As it happens exactly where it all started back in 1982!”), the Sodom mastermind is already looking to the future. “We’ll start writing new material as soon as possible and plan to release a single with at least two brand-new numbers and a bonus track to give our fans a taste of our upcoming album,” he promises. “The direction of the new material already stands: ready for action and full of adrenaline, Sodom are set to celebrate the glorious days of the 1980s old school thrash that we all grew up with and that the band has always been celebrated for.”

German thrash metal veterans SODOM will release a new single and video, "One Step Over The Line", on November 2. This is a live recording from the Rock Hard Festival and the song is the bonus track of the digital version of the new EP "Partisan", which will be released on November 23.

A trailer for "Partisan" and the band's upcoming "MTV Headbangers Ball" European tour with DEATH ANGEL and SUICIDAL ANGELS is available below.

"Partisan" will be made available as a CD digipak, 10-inch clear vinyl, download and stream.

Track listing:

01. Partisan
02. Conflagration
03. Tired & Red (live at the Rock Hard Festival 2018)

SODOM bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such is joined in the band's current lineup by guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (also formerly of KREATOR, ASSASSIN), drummer Stefan "Husky" Hüskens (ASPHYX, DESASTER) and second guitarist Yorck Segatz (BEYONDITION). Blackfire previously played with SODOM on the seminal albums "Persecution Mania", "Mortal Way Of Live" and "Agent Orange".

Commented Such: "We're a real family again. We all really enjoy the new lineup. There's a real team spirit again; we're having a great time together, every one of us is interested in everything and — really important! — everybody is there for everybody else. Obviously that kind of atmosphere is bound to have a positive effect on the songwriting."