Sodom - The Arsonist ★★★☆☆

TEUTONIC THRASH METAL | JUNE 2025 INSTAGRAM | METAL-ARCHIVES        FOR FANS OF: SLAYER, BOLT THROWER, EXUMER, POSSESSED

When you've been waging war since '83 what else do you know?

Sodom is an institute, alongside the other "Big Four of Teutonic Thrash Metal" - others being of course Kreator, Tankard, and Destruction, who by the way also recently put out an album.

13 songs in 49 minutes might sound like a lot these days, but 'The Arsonist' flies by fast - which you might've guessed isn't entirely a good thing. Sodom sounds about as straightforward as ever and to those who don't know: they ain't exactly known for complex compositions, climaxing buildups, dramatic surprises or tonal switcheroos.

Sodom is a face-pummeling at its purest

You have to approach the album with the understanding that each track follows a blueprint: an unflinching tempo, a riff looped into oblivion, bouts of shredding when due, and, of course the gnarly, screeching vocals of the band’s mastermind, Tom Angelripper. There’s a stoic monotony to it all and I rather like that in my teutonics.

Sodom is one of the few still relevant old greats!

'The Arsonist' jumps right into it after a bit of a useless intro piece. It's however when their single Trigger Discipline hits, you lift your head and start looking for the pit. It is super tight and only squeezes you harder as it goes along.

Witchhunter, the second single preppin' the album’s arrival, and honouring their fallen comrade, drummer Chris Witchhunter, offers a better peek of whats to come - its a fun meat-and-pohtaetoes stomp. Fun in a way that reminds me of the absurd brutality and terror of Bolt Thrower.

War is ever present and the aftermath is equally horrendous

In Scavenger we take a bit of a breather from the onslaught - in form only, as the message of the piece is that of agony and distress. Its a structural necessity for the album, too, a rare trench to dive into amidst the singing artillery. The song revels in the horrors of the modern era where the individual is compromised at all fronts as the society gobbles us all. We're neck deep in the front lines or surviving a torturous post-war existence - yeah, this is Sodom alright!

In few ways Trigger Discipline is the high point of the album: it has most personality and I'll be damned if this song doesn't bring Slayer into my mind - sans the nutty trademark whammy craziness. Overall, I do appreciate the atmosphere of the album as there’s a kind of raw intimacy to it. They also recorded the drums analogically which tangibly brought some welcome warmth to the bloodbath.

That said, most of the songs do blend into one another a little too easily and nothing really demands your attention; its easy to just let the album play without really wanting to check what song is on. From an albumcraft perspective, the songs share so much DNA that any sense of momentum starts to blur - until of course you listen this so much that you begin to pinpoint the anomalies.

Dragging where it should detonate

'The Arsonist' is like your favourite spicy food - greasy, loud, and full of vigour. At first, you’re tearing into it with bestial enthusiasm, headbangs & bites. Halfway through, something is afoot: you dull to the seasoning and by the final stretch you’re just plain chewin' through it. Its still okay but you've had your fill five mouthfuls ago.

Sodom's legacy is uncompromisingly brutal and the spirit of 'The Arsonist' not only keeps to what they know best but double down on their strengths. Not a huge surprise with long-running bands - and while packing a dozen rather similar tracks into one album might satisfy the fans, it also keeps the band from reaching new heights.

But then again - why the Hell should they? Innovation is overrated. Sodom has been doing this sh!t longer than some of us have even been in existence. At this point, they’ve earned the right to simply roar like the old lion they are.

Good sh!t