Sodom – Tapping The Vein (reissue)

Written by on 16-11-2024 at 17:12.

German-based Sodom needs little introduction. Founded in 1982, they created the basis of Teutonic thrash together with Kreator, Tankard and Destruction. Sodom has several genuine classics to its name and is still rightly high on the bill when attending a festival. The previous album Genesis XIX dates back to 2020, but a new album is on the way. Just under six weeks before Christmas, the 1992 album Tapping The Vein is re-released in various forms, the most deluxe version of which has already sold out. Fortunately, the regular reissue also comes with some nice extras in the form of a booklet containing all kinds of photos and flyers and, to top it all off, also a live registration.

The album Tapping The Vein caused a stir at the time of it’s original release because, in the opinion of early thrash fanatics, it contained too many death metal influences. Sodom itself didn’t and still doesn’t care because they do what they want. The fact is that Tapping The Vein has become a nice, fierce album on which Sodom sounds fresh. It has everything to do with newcomer Andy Brings who played guitar and also co-composed. The fact that some of the songs on this album are still on the setlist years later may be seen as a strong sign.

The regular album has been remastered (disc 1) and remixed (disc 2), creating a sound that completely fits the standard of these times. The songs blast out of your speakers a little louder than the original and, especially where the drums are concerned, sound a little more modern without losing the feeling of the original. Thrash fans in general and Sodom fans in particular know the album inside and out. Especially for them, the second CD of this reissue contains some special and previously unreleased versions.The most interesting thing about this reissue are the extras. If you buy the deluxe version, you get no less than three live recordings from Düsseldorf, Cologne and Tokyo. (If you go for the “regular” reissue, you will only get the concert from Tokyo).

These are extra special because the concert in Cologne is the last with drummer Chris Witchhunter. The sound of the live recordings is, as you might expect from a recording from 1992, not very good with the concert in Düsseldorf sounding the worst. Fortunately, the set list is not the same for all three, so there is at least some variation. No expense or effort has been spared because this reissue will also be released on colored LP so that both Santa Claus with the larger wallet and those with a little less money can purchase it.

It is of course always a matter of taste, but in retrospect Tapping The Vein is one of the better albums from Sodom‘s career and that is why it is nice that the album is available, even for fans who became fans after 1992.

Label:

BMG Records, 2024

Tracklisting:

CD 1: Tapping The Vein (2024 remaster)

  1. Body Parts
  2. Skinned Alive
  3. One Step Over The Line
  4. Deadline
  5. Bullet In The Head
  6. The Crippler
  7. Wachturm
  8. Tapping The Vein
  9. Back To War
  10. Hunting Season
  11. Reincarnation

CD 2: Tapping The Vein (Redux)

  1. Body Parts
  2. Skinned Alive
  3. One Step Over The Line
  4. Deadline
  5. Bullet In The Head
  6. The Crippler
  7. Wachturm
  8. Tapping The Vein
  9. Back To War
  10. Hunting Season
  11. Reincarnation
  12. Body Parts (alternative remix version)
  13. Wachturm (alternative remix version)
  14. Reincarnation (alternative remix version)

CD 3: Live In Tokyo (1992)

  1. Sodomy & Lust
  2. An Eye For An Eye
  3. One Step Over The line
  4. Deadline
  5. Agent Orange
  6. Skinned Alive
  7. Shellfire Defence
  8. The Crippler
  9. Bullet In The Head
  10. Wachturm
  11. Body Parts
  12. The Kids Wanna Rock
  13. Body Parts (alternative remix version)
  14. Wachturm (alternative remix version)
  15. Reincarnation (alternative remix version)

In the deluxe boxset:

Live In Düsseldorf (1992)

  1. Sodomy & Lust
  2. An Eye For An Eye
  3. Skinned Alive
  4. One Step Over The Line
  5. Exhibition Bout
  6. Ausgebombt
  7. Remember The Fallen
  8. The Saw Is The Law
  9. Wachturm
  10. Bombenhagel

Live In Cologne (The Final Witchhunt, 1992))

  1. Sodomy & Lust
  2. An Eye For An Eye
  3. Agent Orange
  4. Skinned Alive
  5. Better Off Dead
  6. Ausgebombt
  7. One Step Over The Line
  8. The Crippler
  9. Bullet In The Head
  10. Wachturm
  11. Bombenhagel

 

Line-up:

  • Tom Angelripper – Vocals, bass guitar
  • Andy Brings – Guitar
  • Chris Witchhunter – Drums

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