German Thrash Metal veterans SODOM celebrate their 40^th anniversary in style with the release of "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom". The compilation album includes one song from each of their 16 albums plus one song from the very first EP "In The Sign Of Evil". The album was engineered, mixed, and mastered by drummer Toni Merkel. The album has a length of 66 minutes, and it was released via German Metal label Steamhammer.

Where to start if one of the biggest and most influential Thrash Metal bands on this planet release a summary of their amazing work over the last four decades? It all started in the Ruhr area of Germany, a region that has been dominated by mining and it is not accidental that two of the greatest Thrash Metal bands come from that area. All bands of the so-called Teutonic Big Four started around this time, but SODOM have been first. From all the German Thrash Metal giants, KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, and TANKARD, KREATOR were probably most successful, but SODOM were largely influential for the Thrash and later the Black Metal scene. SODOM has always been a bit in the shadow of their local neighbors of KREATOR, but while even KREATOR struggled a bit during the 90s, SODOM always stayed true to their roots.

Most of the four German Thrash Metal giants had their most successful period during the 80s, perhaps with exception of KREATOR who were able to reinvent themselves after some barren years during the 90s. However, it was SODOM delivering consistently albums with their own signature sound all the years. So, it is no surprise that "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom" is a compilation of all albums with one song coming from each album plus one song from the very first EP. Growing up with SODOM, listening to the album has been a time travel and SODOM did not the most obvious songs from each album.

The order of the songs is chronologically and the opener "Sepulchral Voice" comes from the debut EP "In The Sign Of Evil" (1985). It defined the style of SODOM of being raw and direct. "In The Sign Of Evil" includes a few classics like "Outbreak of Evil" and "Blasphemer", the latter one being my favorite. "After The Deluge" is a weird, but logical one. It comes from "Obsessed By Cruelty" (1986), an album that has been recorded twice and was re-released in 1988 as compilation with "In The Sign Of Evil". I checked my own copy of "Obsessed By Cruelty" and "After The Deluge" is simply missing there. However, other great songs from that album are the title song and "Witchhammer". "After The Deluge" was released as lyric video with the YouTube link given below.

"Electrocution" comes from the legendary "Persecution Mania" (1987), arguably the best SODOM album with songs like "Bombenhagel", "Christ Passion", and "Nuclear Winter" on it. While "Electrocution" is also one of the SODOM classics, my favorite from that album is "Christ Passion". Another SODOM classics is "Agent Orange" (1989). "Baptism Of Fire" is one of the classics of that album besides "Agent Orange", "Ausgebombt", or "Remember The Fallen". Both albums "Persecution Mania" and "Agent Orange" defined the SODOM sound over the years and represent the most successful period of the band.

"Better Off Dead" (1990) continues with the speed, aggression, and rawness of the SODOM sound and selecting the title song for this compilation is a logical choice. Other classics from this album are "The Saw Is The Law" and "Stalinorgel". While most Metal bands struggled in the 90s, SODOM kept releasing albums without compromising their style. The "Tapping The Vein" (1992) album contains a few great songs like "One Step Over The Line" or "Wachturm". "Body Parts" is one of the fastest songs on the album and it comes with a cool mid-tempo break. "Get What You Deserve" (1994) and "Masquerade In Blood" (1995) were released during a period with various changes in the line-up changes. That actually started already after 1990 and lasted until 1996. Guitarist Andy Brings played on most of the albums including the 1994 and 1995 releases. "Jabba The Hut" was one of those songs that stuck with me, likewise songs like "Gomorrah" or "Die Stumme Ursel". "Gathering Of Minds" from the "Masquerade In Blood" (1995) album is surely one of the highlights on the album.

The SODOM albums of the late 90s have their moments, but compared to the first albums, it is hard to find any classics on them. "That's What An Unknown Killer Diarized" from the "'Til Death Do Us Unite" (1997) album and "Book Burning" from the "Code Red" (1999) album stand for a period where the SODOM sound could not keep up with the classics from the late 80s. The "'Til Death Do Us Unite" album stands for the beginning of the Bernemann era on guitars. The "Code Red" album has a few highlights with the title song or "The Vice Of Killing". One of the albums I like most is "M-16" (2001). It stands for leaving behind a period which many Thrash Metal fans would like to forget. With "M-16", most of the attributes of the classic SODOM sound were back. "Genocide" stands for that as well as other classics like "Napalm In The Morning", "Among The Weirdcong", or the title song.

It took five years for the next self-titled album. "Sodom" (2006) has some classics like "Blood On Your Lips", "Lords Of Depravity", or SODOM's choice "City Of God". It is one of the catchier songs with the most melodic lead guitar solos you will find on any of the SODOM albums. "The Final Sign Of Evil" (2007) does actually not contain any new songs. It is a mix of the remastered songs from the "In The Sign Of Evil" EP and seven songs that were written for that album in 1984, but never have been released. "Ashes To Ashes" is one of those songs alongside "Where Angels Die" or "Hatred Of The Gods" and it shows the rawness of the SODOM sound from the early days.

"In War And Pieces" (2010) is one of my favorite albums since "M-16" and the title song is one of the best songs on the album besides tracks like "Hell Fire" or "The Art Of Killing Poetry". "S.O.D.O.M." is one the 2013 album "Epitome Of Torture" and it is one of the best songs on the album besides "My Final Bullet" or "Katjuscha". "Caligula" comes from the "Decision Day" (2016) album, and it is one of those songs that came straight back into my mind as it was one of the album highlights. "Euthanasia" from the "Genesis XIX" (2020) album is the last song on this compilation. It was the beginning of a new era for SODOM as there was the return of Frank Blackfire on guitars and the switch from one to two guitarists. It was the first album with SODOM with a four-piece line-up, and songs like "Euthanasia", "Dehumanized", or "Friendly Fire" show clearly the trend towards a rawer and more aggressive sound.

"40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom" is an excellent way to celebrate 40 years of Thrash Metal. The album is not a classical compilation album, it is more a history book as every album of SODOM is represented. It shows the ups and downs of one of the most successful German Thrash Metal bands. It also shows the consistency, the determination, and the uniqueness of a band which is one of the most influential Metal bands of all times. The album is very well produced. "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom" is an album that summarizes 40 years of a genre and it belongs to the collection of every Thrash Metal fan.