Agent Orange (album)
| Agent Orange | ||||
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| Studio album from Sodom | ||||
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Publication |
June 1989 |
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admission |
March / April 1989 |
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| Label (s) | Steamhammer / SPV | |||
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
9 |
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| occupation | ||||
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Studio (s) |
Musiclab Studio, Berlin |
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Agent Orange is the third album by the German thrash metal band Sodom . It was published by Steamhammer / SPV in June 1989 and marked the group's commercial breakthrough with around 100,000 units sold.
Emergence
Tom Angelripper described the songwriting process as similar to that of the previous album Persecution Mania , only the music production was more professional. The compositions were a joint effort by drummer Chris Witchhunter and guitarist Frank Blackfire , the lyrics were written by singer Tom Angelripper. The album was recorded in March and April 1989 in the Berlin Musiclab Studio , produced by Harris Johns. The mix took place in April 1989 in the Horus Sound Studios in Hanover . Even during the recording, there were personal tensions between Frank Blackfire and Chris Witchhunter, which meant that the two musicians did not exchange a word during the last days of the recording. The tense atmosphere was carried over to singer and bassist Angelripper, it was mainly thanks to producer Harris Johns that the album could be completed. Blackfire left Sodom after the recordings and switched to Kreator .
Most of the lyrics are about the Vietnam War , but Tom Angelripper does not want to express his political opinion or convey a political message. Further topics are inbreeding with humans ( Incest ) and bullfighting ( Exhibition Bout ), the CD bonus title Don't Walk Away is a cover version of a song by the British band Tank from 1981. The cover drawing is by Andreas Marschall .
The song Ausgebombt was released in September 1989 on the EP of the same name in a German version, with Bela B. from Die Ärzte as a guest singer .
reception
In retrospect, the album is referred to as the band's masterpiece. The music magazine Rock Hard placed it at number 299 of its 500 strongest records of all time from the field of rock and metal. Particularly highlighted is the song Ausgebombt , which has dispelled the last doubts "about the pacifist and apolitical orientation of the band". Thom Jurek sees the reasons why this is one of the best Sodom albums, on the one hand in the good work of producer Harris John and on the other hand in the fact that the three musicians during the extensive tours between Persecution Mania and Agent Orange as a real trio . Jurek particularly emphasizes the anti-bullfighting hymn Exhibition Bout and the very fast incest .
With the album Sodom had a breakthrough in commercial terms. It sold around 100,000 copies and reached number 36 on the German album charts. Due to the success Tom Angelripper was able to give up his job as a miner after ten years and has been working as a professional musician since then. In 2010 the album was re-released with new artwork .
Track list
- Agent Orange - 6:04
- Tired and Red - 5:26
- Incest - 4:40
- Remember the Fallen - 4:20
- Magic Dragon - 6:00
- Exhibition Bout - 3:35
- Bombed out - 3:04
- Baptism of Fire - 4:04
- Don't Walk Away - 2:55
Web links
- Agent Orange at Allmusic (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Danger Coolidge: Sodom: Tom Angelripper interview. UNBELIEVABLY Bad, March 21, 2010, accessed June 3, 2011 .
- ↑ a b c Kory Grow: Sodom's Tom Angelripper Looks Back on “Agent Orange”. Revolver Magazine, May 27, 2010, accessed June 3, 2011 .
- ^ Robert Pöpperl-Berenda: Sodom - Agent Orange . In: Best of Rock & Metal. The 500 strongest discs of all time . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2007, ISBN 978-3-89880-517-9 , pp. 93 .