SODOM Announces New Lineup, Expands To Four-Piece

While rumors are still flying thick and fast in the media, Thomas "Angelripper" Such has already announced the new lineup of his band SODOM: guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (also formerly of KREATOR, ASSASSIN) has rejoined the group, with Stefan "Husky" Hüskens (ASPHYX, DESASTER) set to man the drum kit, and Yorck Segatz (BEYONDITION) on second guitar. Blackfire previously played with SODOM on the seminal albums "Persecution Mania", "Mortal Way Of Live" and "Agent Orange".

As he had hinted at the beginning of the year, Tom has opted for a lineup featuring two guitarists, an absolute novelty for SODOM. "Two guitarists allow us much more possibilities live, so we will be able to play tracks in future that we weren't able to perform as a trio," Tom said. In line with these new possibilities, the thrash act has already started to put together a setlist for the upcoming shows with all important classics as well as rare numbers that had never or only rarely been heard at their gigs. Tom added: "I can promise that we will really let it rip in future."

In Frank Blackfire, Yorck Segatz and Husky, Tom has consciously gone for musicians from his own background. "It's common knowledge that all three are exceptional instrumentalists and that heavy metal is their life," Tom explained. "But SODOM is also about getting on a personal level. The new band members are all dyed-in-the-wool SODOM fans and all live in Essen. Need I say more?"

While the guys have just moved into their new rehearsal room (Tom: "As it happens, exactly where it all started back in 1982!"),the SODOM mastermind is already looking to the future. "We'll start writing new material as soon as possible and plan to release a single with at least two brand-new numbers and a bonus track to give our fans a taste of our upcoming album," he promised. "The direction of the new material already stands: ready for action and full of adrenaline, SODOM are set to celebrate the glorious days of the 1980s old school thrash that we all grew up with and that the band has always been celebrated for."

A new SODOM single is expected to arrive this summer, with a full-length album to follow in the spring of 2019.

Former SODOM guitarist Bernd "Bernemann" Kost and drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald released a joint statement earlier in the month claiming that they were fired from the band by Tom via messaging platform WhatsApp even before Tom had a chance to hear any of the material the duo had been working on for the group's next album.