Review by Felix on February 7, 2025.

I don't know why Sodom have the intention to release more EPs than the rest of the global worldwide scene combined. Anyway, here we have 1982. It presents exactly one new track (and only if one ignores its integration on the best of from 2022). That's not much, to say it politely and I am not sure whether the band does itself a favour with this publication policy. From my point of view, they are the most authentic (or only absolute authentic) long-standing formation from my homeland. Their punk-infused albums were much closer to their primordial style than albums such as Endorama and… well, you all know the mediocre experiments of Destruction, Tankard or (Grave) Digger. Thus, it is all the more regrettable that they release EPs again and again instead of a new full-length.

Either way, 1982 marks a very solid song with a remarkable raw catchiness. Its rolling mid-tempo lines accompany Tom's voice which is on its way to become a trademark of German metal par excellence. Of course, a more or less predictable high speed part is included as well. The song does not have the quality to reach the top ten or top 20 of Sodom's material, but it is okay and I don't deny its invitation for a nice little headbanging session. (Everything is better than trying to find any sense in the artwork...).

Of course, the song is well produced and the same goes for the remaining tracks. It's a bit of a paradox to get this mouldy tracks in a modern technical frame, but simultaneously this approach keeps things interesting. Of course, the unholy (hahaha) intro of "Victims Of Death" is ridiculous and the riffing of the songs is pretty primitive, but power, speed and ugliness celebrate a stupid yet funny party. The lyrics are barbarically bad and can only be explained by pubertal confusion of thought, but come on, it's art and I don't care too much about this. Finally, all songs show Sodom in pure and honest form and the EP demonstrates that dealing with the past does not mean to lose the future. But after six EPs between 2018 and 2023, it is definitely time for a new full-length from the Ruhrpott, the most Western part of the a country called West Germany back in 1982.

Rating: 7.8 out of 10