It’s 2025, and SODOM are back — five years after their last studio album Genesis XIX, the German thrash legends have unleashed a furious new offering: The Arsonist. Early teasers came in the form of singles “Trigger Discipline” and “Witchhunter”, both of which already hinted at the explosive power of the full release. Now, with ten more tracks (plus an intro), SODOM deliver a relentless and ferocious thrash metal assault that owes much to the energy and rawness of the band’s younger members, Yorck and Toni.

SODOM Prove It’s Not Always About Speed

After the dark and brooding intro, The Arsonist bursts into life with “Battle Of Harvest Moon” — a high-octane opener guaranteed to make fists fly and voices rise. The track is quickly followed by “Trigger Discipline”, already familiar to fans and, according to frontman Tom Angelripper, the most aggressive song on the album. “Witchhunter”, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the band’s late former drummer and feels tailor-made for the live stage, with its instantly catchy chorus inviting fans to shout along.

Yet there’s more to SODOM than pure velocity. The track “Scavenger” slows the pace slightly, dwelling in a mid-tempo range and offering a menacing, atmospheric mood. Angelripper’s snarling vocals cut through the darkness with venomous intent. But this is only a momentary pause — “Sane Insanity” picks up speed once again, with Angelripper roaring in his unmistakable style, as though the end were nigh. The final track, “Return To God In Parts”, begins with a slower, ominous build-up before exploding into a final barrage of solos, closing the album on a blistering high after nearly 50 minutes of pure thrash intensity.

Sound That Hits Like a Hammer

What truly stands out on The Arsonist is how well the current line-up clicks. The twin-guitar attack from Yorck and Frank Blackfire is razor-sharp, with one blistering solo following another. Drummer Toni drives the momentum with ferocious precision, contributing to a sound that feels compact, forceful, and full of raw power. Notably, the band opted to record drums using an analogue 24-track tape machine — a bold move in today’s digital age, but one that gives the record an undeniably punchy and organic feel.

More Than Just a Standard Release

The Arsonist is available in all major formats, but true die-hard fans will want to seek out the limited-edition vinyl box. This collector’s edition has been crafted with care and includes a special sawblade-shaped vinyl featuring five live bonus tracks, currently exclusive to the box set.

SODOM Don’t Reinvent Themselves — and That’s the Point

While The Arsonist doesn’t reinvent the wheel, no one expected it to. SODOM remain loyal to their roots, yet sound even more brutal and uncompromising than they did on Genesis XIX. It’s an album that bridges generations — appealing to longtime loyalists as much as it does to a new wave of Sodomaniacs discovering the band’s raw intensity for the first time.