Once again, metalheads have gathered to see German thrash metallers Sodom live at the Underworld for yet another sold out show. Why these legends are continually playing this intimate venue when they have sold it out multiple times is knowledge only to the promoter and hopefully they will be positioned in a larger venue next time. The Underworld is fitted with a safety barrier tonight, foreseeing the carnage this classic thrash act will evoke.
Sole support comes from English thrash metallers Divine Chaos. Formed in 2006, this quintet released their debut album 'A New Dawn in the Age of War' last year growing the eruption of retro thrash metal. However, Divine Chaos present something different to the likes of straight-forward genre brothers Evile and Warbringer; they infuse their Exodus-inspired thrash with melodic death metal sentiments. The technical ability of the musicians is incredibly commendable for such a youthful act but ultimately the music struggles to deliver attention-sustaining ideas. Nonetheless, their metal is crammed with headbanging riffs as the band demonstrates on stage and they do successfully manage to whet the appetite of the attendees.
Using the quiet beginning to 'My Final Bullet' as their intro tape, Sodom walk on stage and as soon as the filter through the amps, the crowd have already launched themselves into a furious sizeable mosh pit. The song is more bellicose live, in spite of the murky sound, but the classic thrash trappings of 'Sodomy and Lust' fire up the mosh pit even further and the audience surges to the front. Vocalist Tom Angelripper snarls his vocals while he hammers his bass and sole guitarist Bernemann shreds dark thrash metal that slices through the venue as well as dizzying head-turning solos. Unfortunately, the guitars are a little low in the mix tonight but the energy of Sodom is infectious.
The older material is particularly abrasive, often cited as a key influence of early black metal bands. These songs sound clearer in the live sphere, unhinged by any opaque production. Naturally, these older anthems are the ones that command the strongest response from the audience with many fans singing along in unison with the band. Usual staples 'Blasphemer', 'Agent Orange' and 'Outbreak of Evil' march forward with uncompromising trashing savagery and newer volleys including 'Stigmatized', 'City of God' and 'Sacred Warpath' slightly modernise Sodom's aboriginal vision. Teutonic thrash metal covers of the Trashmen's 'Surfin' Bird' and Motorhead's 'Iron Fist' (dedicated to Motorhead) are fired out and violently received. Crowd surfers float over the audience, headbangers give their necks thorough work outs and the war zone mosh pit never ceases while the music plays. Receptive to the audience's vigour, the band members maintain a simple yet captivating performance, enjoying the space the stage affords them with only three men composing their line up.
The venue is eager for more after Sodom leave a sweaty Underworld behind. The German trio then return to crazed applause as they hurl themselves into the 'Bombenhagel' and carpet-bomb the audience in perfectly executed Teutonic terror to provide a punctuating close to such a storming set. As the Underworld sends home the punters for its club night, the weekend has well and truly started with an excellent night.
Once again Sodom award London with a stellar evening in spite of sound issues. Even though they have been making noise consistently since 1981, these German thrashers effortlessly give younger bands a run for their money and their influence on countless acts is undeniable. Hopefully they will play a bigger venue when they return to the capital as Sodom are a band not to be missed by any thrash metal adherent.
FUTURE GIGS
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