Three tracks – one a re-recording of one of Sodom‘s best-loved songs, and two newly-minted efforts from the band’s latest iteration. As a stopgap, you can’t really criticise what Tom Angelripper and company are putting in front of you…

…But it’s just too tantalising! I realise this lineup only brought out an album last year – the excellent Genesis XIX – so a new full-length is probably too much to ask for so soon, but these three tracks have whetted the whistle again, and go some way again to confirming the excellence of Angelripper to forge ahead with his beloved band as a four piece moving forward. I just wanted to hear a few more!

Bombenhagel, originally featured on 1987’s classic Persecution Mania, opens up proceedings – and what is there left to say about this ripping thrasher of a track? For this writer, it’s pretty much the alpha and omega of Teutonic thrash, so a dangerous choon to go meddling with… I’m pleased to report, however, that the track in it’s 2021 clothes is just as spectacular as it ever was, right down to the band’s producer on PM, Harris Johns, returning to reprise his lead guitar duties on the song. There’s a nice little twist at the end of the track, too, but I’ll let you find out about that for yourselves…

The other two tracks carry on the good work started by the band last year on Genesis XIX; Coup De Grace, written by guitarist Yorck Segatz alongside Angelripper, is a churning thrasher in best Sodom style, whilst the latter, Pestiferous Posse, rattles along at high velocity thanks to Angelripper’s rumbling bass and some crackling, lively drumwork from Toni Merkel. And then, of course, you’ve got Frank bringing the Blackfire over the top as only he can… This might just be a stopgap, but it’s top quality stuff nonetheless.

Bombenhagel is out now.