Year: 2019
Total Time: 28:45
Label: Steamhammer/SPV

A year after the release of ‘Partizan’ EP, the Thrash Metal legends SODOM return with a new EP again. Any introductions for the band of course are not necessary . The Germans have been bleeding our ears with their great records for 35 years now. The band appears on 2019 very creative and refreshed with the new members. Remember that in 2017 Tom Angelripper decided to replace Makka and Bernemann. So, Frank Blackfire returned to the band (if you don’t know who Blackfire is, you are probably reading the wrong website), Tormentor in drums (since 2014 he is ASPHYX’s drummer) and Yorck Segatz (guitar).

As we wait for the new full length album in 2020 as Tom has stated, SODOM decided to give us something to listen until the album release date. So they offer “Out of the Frontline Trench” EP which includes 3 new songs, a re-recording of “Agent Orange” and a live version of “Bombenhagel” . The EP opens with the first song “Genesis XIX”, which will also be in the new album. A track with a great thrash riff that lures you to its rhythm and takes you back to the “Persecution Mania” era with its melody and chorus. Next songs are “Down on Your Knees” and “Out of the Frontline Trench” which are in the same musical direction and constitute the main reason for buying this EP since these songs, apart from being amazing they will not be in any other SODOM release. The re-recording of “Agent Orange” is the same as the original and the EP closes with a powerful live version of ‘Bombenhagel’ with the current lineup. The overall production is great and the lyrical themes are about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and war, the favorite Sodom topics after all.

SODOM, after all these years continue to offer us dirty and raw Thrash Metal of great quality. Since “Out of the Frontline Trench” was released, the more I play it, I appreciate it even more and more. The band sounds very refreshed and the new songs have the old school atmosphere of’ “Persecution Mania”. The masters of European Thrash Metal have returned and offer us the best release of this genre in 2019. A must have for every Thrash Metal fan and not only for Sodomaniacs!!!

Rating: 8/10

Nikos Manousis

Related Link: SODOM – Official Page