🔥 Sodom’s “The Arsonist” Burns Through 2025 – But Does It Melt Faces or Just Melt Away? 🔥
Introduction
Four decades. Four. Decades. That’s how long Tom Angelripper and his German thrash titans have been obliterating eardrums and melting faces across the globe. Now, in 2025, Sodom drops their 17th studio album The Arsonist on us like a molotov cocktail through your bedroom window. But here’s the question that keeps me up at night (besides the tinnitus): after all these years, does the old dog still have new tricks, or are we just watching a legendary band go through the motions?
Let’s dive into this sonic inferno and see if it’s worth adding to your battle vest or if it belongs in the bargain bin next to that Metallica album we don’t talk about. 🎸
Review of the Album
The Arsonist clocks in at a solid 48 minutes and 47 seconds – just enough time to thoroughly destroy your neck muscles without overstaying its welcome. From the moment that title track intro hits, you know you’re in for classic Sodom territory: raw, unpolished, and meaner than a hangover at Wacken.
The standout tracks? “Trigger Discipline” kicks things off with the kind of riff that makes you want to start a pit in your living room. It’s got that old-school Sodom DNA but with production that doesn’t sound like it was recorded in a bunker (though let’s be honest, that bunker sound had its charm). “Witchhunter” – now that’s a gut punch. This tribute to their late drummer Christian “Witchhunter” Dudek hits harder than a double-kick intro, and you can feel the genuine emotion behind every blast beat. It’s the kind of track that reminds you why you fell in love with this genre in the first place.
“Taphephobia” (fear of being buried alive, for you non-metalheads still reading) delivers exactly what you’d expect from a song with that title – claustrophobic riffs that make you feel like you’re six feet under. The production by Toni Merkel keeps things crisp without sacrificing that essential Sodom grit.
But here’s where it gets interesting: this isn’t just nostalgia worship. Tracks like “Sane Insanity” and “Obliteration of the Aeons” show that these German veterans still have some fire left in the tank. The riffs are sharp, the vocals are as venomous as ever, and the rhythm section pounds like Thor’s hammer on an anvil.
Is it their best work? No, that throne still belongs to Agent Orange or Persecution Mania. But does it prove that Sodom can still write killer thrash in 2025? Absolutely. This album won’t convert any pop fans, but it’ll satisfy the faithful and maybe win over a few fence-sitters. 🤘
Bio of the Band
Let me tell you about the unholy trinity of German thrash: while Kreator went progressive and Destruction… well, let’s just say they had their ups and downs, Sodom has remained the most consistently brutal of the Teutonic Big Three. Founded in 1981 in Gelsenkirchen by the indestructible Tom Angelripper (real name: Thomas Such), these guys have been the soundtrack to countless mosh pits and bad life decisions for over 40 years.
Current Members:
- Tom Angelripper (Thomas Such) – Bass, Vocals (1981-present) – The man, the myth, the legend who’s outlasted more lineup changes than Spinal Tap drummers
- Frank Gosdzik – Guitar (1987-1989, 2018-present) – Also known as “Frank Blackfire,” this guy’s return was like getting your favorite guitarist back from the dead
- Yorck Segatz – Guitar (2018-present) – The newest blood keeping the six-string assault fresh
- Toni Merkel – Drums (2010-present) – Not the German Chancellor, but equally powerful behind the kit
Interesting Fact: Here’s something that’ll blow your mind – Sodom originally started as a three-piece with Tom handling both bass AND vocals from day one. Most bands can barely handle one frontman, but Tom’s been doing double duty since Reagan was president. The man’s a machine. Also, they’re one of the few bands that can claim to have influenced the entire second wave of black metal while remaining firmly planted in thrash territory. Talk about leaving a mark on metal history! 🔥
Tracklist
Album Details:
- Year: 2025
- Label: Steamhammer/SPV
- Producer: Toni Merkel
- Length: 48:47
- Genre: Thrash Metal (like you couldn’t tell)
Track Listing:
- “The Arsonist” (1:02)
- “Battle of Harvest Moon” (4:12)
- “Trigger Discipline” (3:52)
- “The Spirits That I Called” (2:57)
- “Witchhunter” (3:13)
- “Scavenger” (4:01)
- “Gun Without Groom” (4:43)
- “Taphephobia” (3:42)
- “Sane Insanity” (4:03)
- “A.W.T.F.” (3:57)
- “Twilight Void” (4:44)
- “Obliteration of the Aeons” (3:53)
- “Return to God in Parts” (4:28)
Fun fact: “A.W.T.F.” is dedicated to Algy Ward from Tank – because apparently even German thrash legends pay their respects to NWOBHM pioneers. The album hit #4 on the German charts and cracked the top 20 in several countries. Not bad for a band that’s been around since the Carter administration! 📊
Personal Note
Look, I’m not gonna lie to you – The Arsonist isn’t going to change your life or redefine thrash metal. But you know what? Sometimes you don’t need revolution; sometimes you just need really good, honest-to-Satan thrash metal played by guys who’ve been perfecting their craft since before half their fans were born.
This album is comfort food for metalheads. It’s that reliable friend who shows up with beer and battle stories, ready to headbang until the sun comes up. In a world full of overproduced, algorithm-friendly metal, Sodom remains gloriously, unapologetically themselves. And honestly? That’s exactly what we need right now.
Crank it up, throw on your battle vest, and remember why you fell in love with this beautiful, brutal genre in the first place. 🤘
Rating: 7.5/10 – Solid thrash that’ll satisfy the faithful without breaking new ground
