Year: 2023
Total Time: 18:28
Label: Steamhammer

Since SODOM became a four-membered band, they started giving us several releases. Due to this over-productive stage, in 2022 they released a compilation entitled “40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom” which included re-recordings of older songs . The limited box set edition of this release had a CD with re-recorded songs from SODOM’s first demos. One year later, SODOM decided to release a new EP entitled “1982”.

In this new EP someone can fine the five re-recorded compositions that we came across in the previous year’s box set and were originally released in “Witching Metal” and “Victims of Death” demos in 1983 and 1984 respectively. Additionally, “1982” includes the unreleased song “1982” and a new recording of “Equinox” from “Obsessed by Cruelty” album. The songs are giving us a musical taste of the band’s first steps. In there we can find influences from VENOM, MOTORHEAD, TANK and Punk music, sounds which were the main elements for SODOM’s musical style. It should also be noted that the production has given a modernized character to the songs, however removed some of their original rawness.

Overall, I wouldn’t say that I can’t see any reason for the release of this EP, especially when it was already released a year ago in a different version. Also, the fact that SODOM made their fans pay for the limited edition of “40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom” in order to get the bonus songs, and now they are releasing those compositions in a different release, it is disrespectful. Apart from this negative fact, “1982” is a decent EP and is quite interesting to listen to the band’s first musical steps in a modern production.

Rating: 6,5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: SODOM – Official Page