Sodom – Genesis XIX

Tom “Angelripper” reunites with Frank Blackfire

Released in 2020, GENESIS XIX is the fifteenth full-length studio album by ’s Sodom; and sixteenth if you count their debut EP (I’m not counting, by the way, their 2007 redo album, THE FINAL SIGN OF EVIL, which is ruined by Witchhunter’s sloppy drums). The band originally formed in 1981 and released the aforementioned IN THE SIGN OF EVIL EP in early 1985. Although they started out with juvenile black metal lyrics (horror, occult & satanism) they soon switched to war themes, as well as political/societal stuff.

I owning one or two of Sodom's early albums back in the day (on tape), but it didn't leave much of an impact so I didn't pursue the band further until twenty years later when someone suggested I check 'em out. I listened to selections of CODE RED (1999), M-16 (2001) and SODOM (2006) on Youtube and my jaw dropped. Talk about improving! I had no idea they were such a top-of-the-line band and wouldn't hesitate to put them on par with fellow Germans Kreator, although Sodom are even more savage, sorta akin to Bathory, but with better production and real drumming rather than a friggin' drum machine.

For some reason, I had written them off as uncreative one-dimensional thrash, but that's simply not the case. Sure, they're thrash with the dynamic drumming thereof, but they're so much more. Many of their songs expertly throw-in great acoustic (clean channel) ages to keep things interesting, not to mention slower or mid-paced sections. The title track here is a good example, as is “Waldo & Pigpen.”

Bernd "Bernemann" Kost was the guitarist from 1996-2018 and was one of the core reasons for the greatness of the band’s output during this time, not to mention kick-axx drummers Bobby Schottkowski (1997–2010) and Markus "Makka" Freiwald (2010–2018). Of course, bassist/vocalist Tom “Angelripper” Such is the formidable ringleader without whom the band wouldn’t exist.

Tom sacked both Bernemann and Makka in 2018 (who quickly formed the formidable group Bonded) and reunited with Frank Blackfire, who played guitar on the band’s iconic 80’s albums PERSECUTION MANIA (1987) and AGENT ORANGE (1989). The good news is that GENESIS XIX is superior to those early opuses. I can’t say it’s better than their previous album, DECISION DAY (2016), which easily ranks with Sodom’s top disks, but it’s just as good in its own way. It’s more primitive, yet in a positive way. The song “Dehumanized” is a prime example with its ominous opening that eventually morphs into conventional thrash.

The 12 tracks clock-in at 54:44.

GRADE: A-

I do love the album and Sodom is one of my all time favorite bands. But vocals are a bit low in the mix. Just alot of compression overall. Never heard it on CD but I would assume it sounds better. Still happy to add to my Sodom vinyl lineup.