'Epitome Of Torture' features not only your typical SODOM fare, but also two or three numbers which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us," says Angelripper, "so wait and see!"

"Epitome Of Torture" track listing:

Limited-edition digipak:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
11. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
12. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)

Jewel Case:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)

2LP (colored vinyl):

LP 1

Side 1

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)

Side 2

01. Stigmatized (02:56)
02. Cannibal (04:19)
03. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)

LP 2

Side 1

01. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
02. Katjuscha (03:43)
03. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)

Side 2

01. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
02. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
03. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)
04. Ace Of Spades (02:36) (bonus track)

"Katjuscha" has little to do with the same-named folk song by Mikhail Isakovsky, but is about the Russian rocket launcher which has been responsible for death and destruction thousandfold.

"The Katjuscha has been produced since World War II and is still used today," the SODOM frontman explains. "It's been responsible for the death of more people than Stalin's organ. To name such a deadly weapon after a girl is as grotesque as giving the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima the code name 'Little Boy'."

It's obvious that SODOM hasn't changed its scornful view of the world, presenting an album in "Epitome Of Torture" that is as uncompromising as ever in musical as well as lyrical terms.

"Unfortunately, there's still plenty of inspiration for angry lyrics around," says Angelripper. The bitter thrash metal attack "Waterboarding", which deals with torture methods, fits perfectly into this context.

"It always surprises me how inventive — in the most negative sense of the word — people can be when it comes to torturing others," states the vocalist. "At the same time, 'Epitome Of Torture' features not only typical SODOM numbers, like the title track, our new hit 'S.O.D.O.M.' and 'Stigmatized', the toughest SODOM number in ages, but also two or three recordings which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us." Angelripper is referring to songs such as "Cannibal" and "Tracing The Victim", which allow Bernemann to present his impressive musical skills, as well as "Into The Skies Of War", on which Angelripper allowed himself to be inspired by icons such as MOTÖRHEAD and TANK. "Luckily, it's impossible to hide my influences," he says.