Source: Bravewords.com

“The devil is in the detail,” as the old saying goes. Translated to Sodom vocalist/bassist Tom Angelripper’s sharp-tongued and highly critical powers of observation, you might also say: the worst perversions often hide behind seemingly harmless terms. What are we referring to? For example to ‘Katjuscha’, one of twelve hard-as-nails songs which SODOM present on their latest studio album, Epitome Of Torture. After all, Sodom’s ‘Katjuscha’ has little to do with the same-named folk song by Mikhail Isakovsky, but is about the Russian rocket launcher which has been responsible for death and destruction thousandfold. “The Katjuscha has been produced since World War II and is still used today,” the Sodom frontman explains. “It’s been responsible for the death of more people than Stalin’s organ. To name such a deadly weapon after a girl is as grotesque as giving the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima the code name ‘Little Boy’.” It’s obvious that Sodom 2013 haven’t changed their scornful view of the world, presenting an album in Epitome Of Torture that is as uncompromising as ever in musical as well as lyrical terms. “Unfortunately there’s still plenty of inspiration for angry lyrics around,” says Angelripper.

The bitter thrash metal attack ‘Waterboarding’, which deals with torture methods, fits perfectly into this context. “It always surprises me how inventive – in the most negative sense of the word – people can be when it comes to torturing others,” states the vocalist, who recorded Epitome Of Torture together with guitarist Bernemann and new drummer Markus “Makka” Freiwald. “At the same time, Epitome Of Torture features not only typical Sodom numbers, like the title track, our new hit ‘S.O.D.O.M.’ and ‘Stigmatized’, the toughest Sodom number in ages, but also two or three recordings which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us,” Tom Angelripper points out. He is referring to songs such as ‘Cannibal’ and ‘Tracing The Victim’, which allow guitarist Bernemann to present his impressive musical skills, as well as ‘Into The Skies Of War’, on which Angelripper allowed himself to be inspired by icons such as Motörhead and Tank: “Luckily, it’s impossible to hide my influences.”

Epitome Of Torture was produced by Waldemar Sorychta, whose expertise as a sound engineer and audio magician thoroughly benefitted Sodom’s 2010 release In War And Pieces. Tom Angelripper: “Waldemar is an exceptional producer, who always succeeds in evening out an artist´s weak spot and promoting his strengths. He doesn’t let you get away with anything, he knows all our weak spots. Which occasionally makes working at the studio a little demanding, but at the end of the day it’s all worthwhile, as the result shows.” The Sodom frontman describes the sound on Epitome Of Torture as “hard-as-nails and contemporary, without ignoring our tried-and-tested old-school attitude.”

The new album will be available worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer in four different formats: as a limited-edition DigiPak including two bonus tracks and a poster, in a regular jewel case, as a double gatefold colored vinyl with three bonus tracks and for download. The cover artwork featuring Sodom‘s popular “Knarrenheinz” logo was developed by graphic designer Meran Karanitant, who has caused a stir with his work for SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

Epitome Of Torture will be released on the following dates:

Germany – April 26th
Europe – April 29th
US/Canada – May 7th

Epitome Of Torture tracklistings:

Limited Edition Digipak:
‘My Final Bullet’
‘S.O.D.O.M.’
‘Epitome Of Torture’
‘Stigmatized’
‘Cannibal’
‘Shoot Today – Kill Tomorrow’
‘Invocating The Demons’
‘Katjuscha’
‘Into The Skies Of War’
‘Tracing The Victim’
‘Waterboarding’ (bonus track)
‘Splitting The Atom’ (bonus track)

Jewel Case:
‘My Final Bullet’
‘S.O.D.O.M.’
‘Epitome Of Torture’
‘Stigmatized’
‘Cannibal’
‘Shoot Today – Kill Tomorrow’
‘Invocating The Demons’
‘Katjuscha’
‘Into The Skies Of War’
‘Tracing The Victim’

2LP (coloured vinyl):

LP 1

Side 1
‘My Final Bullet’
‘S.O.D.O.M.’
‘Epitome Of Torture’

Side 2
‘Stigmatized’
‘Cannibal’
‘Shoot Today – Kill Tomorrow’

LP 2

Side 1
‘Invocating The Demons’
‘Katjuscha’
‘Into The Skies Of War’

Side 2
‘Tracing The Victim’
‘Waterboarding’ (bonus track)
‘Splitting The Atom’ (bonus track)
‘Ace Of Spades’ (bonus track)

For more details visit Sodomized.info.

Source: Bravewords.com

SODOM will release their new album, entitled Epitome Of Torture, in Germany on April 26th, in Europe on April 29th and in North America on May 7th, through SPV/Steamhammer.

In recent months, vocalist/bassist Tom Angelripper, guitarist Bernemann and their new drummer Markus “Makka” Freiwald recorded a total of twelve new tracks (plus a MOTÖRHEAD cover) which present Sodom as more diverse and multi-faceted than ever.

“Epitome Of Torture features not only your typical Sodom fare, but also two or three numbers which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us,” Tom Angelripper explains, “so wait and see!”

Epitome Of Torture was produced by Waldemar Sorychta, whose expertise as a sound engineer and audio magician thoroughly benefitted Sodom’s 2010 release In War And Pieces.

Tom Angelripper: “Waldemar is a true authority. He doesn’t let you get away with anything, he knows all our weak spots. Which occasionally makes working at the studio a little demanding, but at the end of the day it’s all worthwhile, as the result shows.”

The Sodom frontman describes the sound on Epitome Of Torture as, “hard-as-nails and contemporary, without ignoring our tried-and-tested old-school attitude.”

The new album will be available in four different formats: as a limited-edition digipak including two bonus tracks and a poster, in a regular jewel case, as a double gatefold vinyl including three bonus tracks and for download. The cover artwork featuring Sodom‘s popular “Knarrenheinz” logo was developed by graphic designer Meran Karanitant, who has caused a stir with his work for SIX FEET UNER, HATEBREED and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

There will also be a video clip to support Epitome Of Torture: together with the ROAX team, Sodom are about to start shooting a video for their new album song ‘Stigmatized’ in Berlin.

“Sodom haven’t had an official video clip for some time, so it’s about time we did one,” Tom Angelripper confesses. “That’s why the mini film will be uncompromising, a shocking clip which our fans can look forward to!”

Upcoming Sodom live dates include:

March
1 – Umea, Sweden – House Of Metal Festival
15 – Gwynedd, Wales – Hammerfest V
30 – Chaulnes, France – Chaulnes Metal Fest

April
13 – Santiago, Chile – Metal Fest Santiago

May
24 – Hyvinkaeae, Finland – Steelfest Open Air
30 – Geiselwind, Germany – Beastival Festival

June
22 – Jaworzno, Poland – Metalfest

July
27 – Chemnitz/Mittelbach, Germany – Rock im Betonwerk