They are Germans, they eat a lot of meat and they’re gonna sodomize us all at this year’s Bangalore Open Air! Sodom are one of the pioneers of Teutonic Thrash Metal and when they’re on stage, the epic-ness never ends! We caught up with the frontman and Sodom’s driving force since its inception in 1981, Tom Angelripper, for a little chat about BOA, their new album ‘Epitome Of Torture’ and things in general. Read on…
Eight Octaves: Greetings from Eight Octaves! Wie geht es Ihnen? We are all stoked to see you guys! Bangalore Open Air is going to be one massive event with performances by the likes of Sodom, Iced Earth, Ihsahn and many more. What are your expectations from the crowd?
Tom Angelripper: I was surprised that we got an offer for a show in India for the first time in 31 years. I am so thankful about that. We are touring worldwide, but never got the change to perform in India. That’s awesome! We expect a fantastic and enthusiastic crowd; New friendships, loving people, exotic food! Simply a nice time…
Eight Octaves: What kind of setlist can we expect at BOA? Are we going to hear more songs from the new albums or would we be sodomized by classic Sodom thrash hits?
Tom: We have so many classics after so many releases and it is always hard to choose the right songs. But we also have to perform three or four new songs because we want to promote the new album. But in the next time we want change the set list, and have to replace some of the good old and all-time hits to some rarities. But you will not miss the all-time Sodom classics. Be sure, that Agent Orange will spread over India 😉
Eight Octaves: Coming to the band’s latest grind, ‘Epitome of Torture’, it offers us a powerful infiltrating thrash sound which any Sodom fan would cherish and it yet again proves that Sodom is not just a thrash metal band but incarnation of thrash metal itself. How do you see the album? How satisfied are you with it?
Tom: Very. We produced again with Waldemar Sorychta. That was a great team-work. The songwriting started directly after the ‘In War & Pieces’ European Tour. It’s always the same procedure; we try to practice two times a week and start a jam-session. That’s always a good requirement to write song in that old school way. But the new drummer “Makka” made the difference! That is the most important thing. He gave us so much new inputs and inspirations. So, now we are able to arrange faster songs and get the old Sodom spirit back. I like the new album, because the sound is more authentic and powerful. We did not record analog and did it in digital, as usual, but it sounds like an analog production.
Eight Octaves: Lyrically, I find the album based on classic subjects such as war, violence, brutality. But there’s always a difference in the basic themes of your albums, for example ‘M16’ and ‘Agent Orange’ dealt with the Vietnam War, while ‘Tapping the Vein’ concentrated more on social issues like prostitution, drug abuse, etc. What separates ‘Epitome of Torture’ from others?
Tom: M-16 was a kind of concept album dealing with tactical guerilla war, like it was usual in Vietnam War. War is the biggest inspiration to me, also on the new album. Don’t misunderstand me, I want to live in a peaceful world without disgust, suppression and wars, but the war is still growing. I am not political active and I can’t chance anything. But being a singer in a Thrash band, give me the chance to scream it out. It’s so terrible, when I read the newspaper or look TV. It’s a world full of cruelty and that makes me sad…
Eight Octaves: We can see the band mascot, “Knarrenheinz” on the cover of the album. He has been the face of Sodom since ‘Persecution Mania’. What is the story behind it?
Tom: The cover and the song title reflects the desolate situation of our world with a kind of apocalyptic mood and our mascot “Knarrenheinz” in his favorite occupation…saving the world…again ;)) He was born in 87, when we got the cover for the album Persecution Mania.
Eight Octaves: Sodom initially had that proto-black metal sound in ‘In the Sign of Evil’ and ‘Obsessed by Cruelty’, which was followed by what moulded the Teutonic Thrash metal sound in ‘Prosecution Mania’. It again changed to a more punk-oriented crossover thrash before returning to old school thrash. What factors would you attribute these changes to?
Tom: When we formed the band in 82 we never thought about a professional career, because we did it just for fun. We were metal-heads that loved that music. And then we came out with the idea to form a band, inspired by Venom and all the heavy bands that formed in that time. And Black Metal style was our basement. I was also inspired by Aleister Crowley and Satanic attitudes. But later I was afraid of that theme and I decided to change the lyrically direction. The music changed with Frank Blackfire, who was more interested in Speed and Thrash Metal.
Eight Octaves: Sodom experienced a lot of line-up changes till 1997’s ‘Til Death Do Us Unite’. But from the past few releases, it is more or less constant. Do you ever feel that you have missed something by not maintaining a constant line-up back then and would you say that things have got easier in the base now that you have a constant line-up?
Tom: Yes, that’s true. The problem is that we have to restart the band after a member leaves. But I look forward and want the band keep on going. There were enough reasons to kick somebody out of the band. But each member is a part of the Sodom family and an indelible component of Sodom`s history. Bobby, the ex-drummer played in Sodom for 15 years. When we split up it was very sad, but I can`t resign. I have to push the complete project to a better way. A new member meant a new chance for Sodom and we took it with Makka…
Eight Octaves: Unlike most thrash metal bands, Sodom has always been a three piece band. Is there any particular reason you never included a second guitarist in your line-up?
Tom: I loved the three piece bands, like old Motörhead, Raven, Venom, Tank, Vardis. I was always impressed by how loud and powerful a trio can be. Never thought about hiring a second guitar player
Eight Octaves: Recently the world of thrash metal lost one of its pioneers, Jeff Hanneman. In what way has his passing away affected you? Please share with us a special experience that you have had with Jeff.
Tom: I was shocked, because I thought that he was in the hospital because of this spider attack and problems with the skin. But I know that he drank a lot of alcohol but I never saw him drinking. I met him the first time in 1985 when they played in Bochum with Destruction on tour. And Witchhunter was playing in Destruction at this time just for a tour. I met him and he was a very nice guy, hope that Slayer keep on going, I hope Slayer get back Dave Lombardo on the drums and restart the band. But it’s not all the same. Jeff Hanneman, I think he was better than Kerry King sometimes, was the main songwriter. I’m still shocked, because he was a young man…
Eight Octaves: How is your bonding with the fellow thrash bands Tankard, Destruction and Kreator? Have you guys got any upcoming “Big Teutonic Four” tour with them? Perhaps we could have a Big 4 concert in India as well, haha!
Tom: Maybe, we can arrange some shows in next year. But there will never be a big tour. That`s the business. Less shows, but this package will always be something special…but, at the time I can`t tell you more details about the “Teutonic four” future plans…
Eight Octaves: What other interests do you have besides being the “epitome of thrash metal”?
Tom: I got some hobbies, like collecting postcards of my hometown Gelsenkirchen-Buer. But my biggest passion is hunting. I have an own district with deer and rabbits 😉 Delicious tasty meat 😉
Eight Octaves: Finally, what message would you give to your fans out here in India?
Tom: Can`t wait to see you all at Bangalore and thanks for your support. Hope we will have a peaceful Metal Fest. And please, keep on thrashing…your Tom 🙂
