Sodom "Agent Orange (2020, CD, Japan, Reissue, Mini-LP, SHM-CD, Avalon, MICP-30135)"

Agent Orange is the third studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 June 1989 by SPV/Steamhammer. It was their last album with guitarist Frank Blackfire (who would later join Kreator) until his return to the band in 2018. The lyrical content delves deeply into Tom Angelripper's fascination with the Vietnam War, with a song dedicated to the ground assault aircraft AC-47 as well as the Agent orange defoliant-inspired title-track. It was their first album to enter the German album charts where it reached number 36. Agent Orange sold 100,000 copies in Germany alone and marked the commercial break through for the band. The song "Ausgebombt" was released on the EP Ausgebombt with German lyrics.

The album's liner notes carry the message: "This album is dedicated to all people – soldiers and civilians – who died by senseless aggressions of wars all over the world."

In March 2010, Agent Orange was re-released in a digipak with bonus tracks and liner notes containing lyrics and rare photos.

In 2005, Agent Orange was ranked number 299 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked Agent Orange as 63rd on their list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time'.

Tracklist:

1. Agent Orange 06:05   
2. Tired and Red 05:28   
3. Incest 04:40  
4. Remember the Fallen 04:21
5. Magic Dragon 05:59  
6. Exhibition Bout 03:36  
7. Ausgebombt 03:05   
8. Baptism of Fire 04:05   
9. Don't Walk Away (Tank cover) 02:56  
10. Incest (live) 04:19
11. Agent Orange (live) 05:27  
12. Tired and Red (live) 05:02  
13. Remember the Fallen (live) 04:06   
14. Ausgebombt (live) 03:47
15. Ausgebombt (German version) 03:07  

Time:  01:06:03

Featuring all tracks from Steamhammer 2CD reissue 2010.

Recording information:

Recorded at Musiclab Studios, West-Berlin, March/April 1989.

Mixed at Horus Sound Studios, Hannover, April 1989.

Sodom "Persecution Mania (1993 Reissue, Japan, Teichiku Records Co. Ltd., TECX-20527)"

Persecution Mania is the second studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 December 1987 by Steamhammer/SPV. The album marked the beginning of the change in sound from having elements of thrash metal, speed metal and black metal to mostly being thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity. The album also bore similarity to the music of other German bands such as Destruction and Kreator, and the term "Teutonic" thrash was coined from this.

Despite what the cover may imply, the lyrical themes of the album are centred more around politics and war than religion. This is largely due to guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik joining the band. He brought new songwriting aspects to the band that gave it a much more organized and clearer sound, as well as helping Sodom to carve a lyrical niche that it still practices to this day. The outro guitar lead in track 9, "Bombenhagel", is the German national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen".

Persecution Mania was re-released in 2000 as part of a double pack with the Obsessed by Cruelty/In the Sign of Evil split. Both CD releases include the Expurse of Sodomy EP.

Tracklist:

1. Nuclear Winter 05:22  
2. Electrocution 03:11   
3. Iron Fist (Motörhead cover) 02:42  
4. Persecution Mania 03:36
5. Enchanted Land 03:56
6. Procession to Golgatha 02:00
7. Christ Passion 06:10  
8. Conjuration 03:40  
9. Bombenhagel 05:04
10. Outbreak of Evil 03:29   
11. Sodomy and Lust 05:10  
12. The Conqueror 03:28
13. My Atonement 06:10  

Time:  53:58  

Track 10 is a re-recorded version.

Tracks 11-13 taken from their Expurse of Sodomy EP.

Recording information:

Recorded at Musiclab Studios, Berlin, October 1987.

Produced by Sodom.

Sodom "Persecution Mania/Ausgebombt (Russia, 2002, CD, Agat Company, A-477, Unofficial Release)"

Persecution Mania is the second studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released on 1 December 1987 by Steamhammer/SPV. The album marked the beginning of the change in sound from having elements of thrash metal, speed metal and black metal to mostly being thrash metal. As well as defining Sodom's sound, it exemplified the thrash metal genre at a time when it arguably peaked in popularity. The album also bore similarity to the music of other German bands such as Destruction and Kreator, and the term "Teutonic" thrash was coined from this.

Despite what the cover may imply, the lyrical themes of the album are centred more around politics and war than religion. This is largely due to guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik joining the band. He brought new songwriting aspects to the band that gave it a much more organized and clearer sound, as well as helping Sodom to carve a lyrical niche that it still practices to this day. The outro guitar lead in track 9, "Bombenhagel", is the German national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen".

Persecution Mania was re-released in 2000 as part of a double pack with the Obsessed by Cruelty/In the Sign of Evil split. Both CD releases include the Expurse of Sodomy EP.

Tracklist:

1. Nuclear Winter 05:22   
2. Electrocution 03:11   
3. Iron Fist (Motörhead cover) 02:42
4. Persecution Mania 03:36
5. Enchanted Land 03:56  
6. Procession to Golgatha 02:00  
7. Christ Passion 06:10
8. Conjuration 03:40
9. Bombenhagel 05:04
10. Outbreak of Evil 03:32   
11. Sodomy and Lust 05:12   
12. The Conqueror 03:30   
13. My Atonement 06:05
14. Ausgebombt 03:06   
15. Don't Walk Away (Tank cover) 02:59  
16. Incest (live) 04:28  
17. Silence Is Consent 02:31  
18. Shellfire Defense 04:23
19. Gone to Clory 02:00  
20. Fratricide 02:50  

Time:  01:16:17