OMG! 😱 Thrash metal dinosaurs SODOM, who probably still think it’s cool to wear studded belts indoors, have dropped a lyric video for their new banger, “Taphephobia”. Yes, you read that right, “Taphephobia.” It’s almost as if they looked up random phobias in a dictionary and picked the one that sounded the most metal-adjacent. This groundbreaking track will grace their upcoming album, “The Arsonist”, which is set to be unleashed on June 27th via SPV/Steamhammer. Prepare to be mildly entertained! 🤘
According to SODOM‘s supreme overlord, Thomas “Angelripper” Such, “Taphephobia is an abnormal phobia of being buried alive as a result of being incorrectly pronounced dead.”🤯 Thanks, Tom, we totally couldn’t have figured that out ourselves. Apparently, the song was a gift from drummer Toni Merkel, who is also an “excellent guitarist.” So excellent, in fact, that he’s slumming it in SODOM. 🤔
But wait, there’s more! SODOM, in their infinite wisdom, decided that good music is all about the sound. And to achieve this sonic perfection, they went back to the stone age and recorded the drum parts on a 24-track analog tape machine. Because, you know, digital is for posers. 🙄 Such proudly proclaims, “No plastic!” because apparently, plastic sounds bad? Who knew? This commitment to “authenticity” cost them more time, effort, and money, but hey, who needs to retire when you can waste resources on outdated technology? 🤷♂️
It’s not just the production that’s complex, oh no. The songwriting is also a collaborative masterpiece, with all four SODOM members contributing their unique talents. Tom explains that Frank brought the “typical SODOM riffs and hooks” (because apparently, they only know one riff), while York went for the “more epic songwriting” (think 3 chords instead of 2). And then there’s Toni, the “excellent guitarist,” who apparently saved the album from being completely monotonous. 😴
Their first single, “Trigger Discipline”, is supposedly the “toughest song” on the album. It’s about a sniper who lost his marbles and started shooting people randomly. So edgy! 🔪
Here’s the track listing for “The Arsonist”, in case you’re a completionist or something:
01. The Arsonist
02. Battle Of Harvest Moon
03. Trigger Discipline
04. The Spirits That I Called
05. Witchhunter
06. Scavenger
07. Gun Without Groom
08. Taphephobia
09. Sane Insanity
10. A.W.T.F.
11. Twilight Void
12. Obliteration Of The Aeons
13. Return To God In Parts
In a recent interview, Angelripper revealed that he’s cutting back on touring because he wants to spend more time with his family, go hunting, and “do nothing.” Which is code for “I’m getting too old for this crap.” 👴 He also whined about wasting time in airports and hotels, because apparently, being a rock star isn’t as glamorous as it seems. 🙄
But don’t worry, SODOM fans! Tom assures us that he’s not retiring, just taking a “break.” He has no idea when he’ll be back, but he promises to let us know… eventually. ⏳
And yes, SODOM is still getting booking requests from promoters around the world. Apparently, people are still interested in seeing them, which is baffling, to say the least. 🤷♀️
In conclusion, SODOM is taking a break because Tom loves his fans, but he loves himself more. And he also loves his family and his old friends. So, good for him! 👍
In November 2023, SODOM released an EP, “1982”, because why not? 🤷
Their 40th-anniversary album, “40 Years At War – The Greatest Hell Of Sodom”, came out in October 2022. It featured re-recorded versions of their old songs, because apparently, they weren’t bad enough the first time around. 🤮
And their last studio album, “Genesis XIX”, came out in November 2020. It was recorded by Siggi Bemm and mastered by Patrick W. Engel, because those names totally mean something to you, right? 🤷♂️
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
