Sodom’s cult 1992 album Tapping The Vein may have been the bands heaviest offering yet but as the band remembers, the album really offered something new, there were more punk influences in it and the track ‘Wachturm’ wears that influence in its shoulder.
Tom Angelripper recalls how the song came together, “Andy (Brings – guitarist) is a big Ramones fan, which Chris (Witchhunter – drums) and I also liked. Chris was the metal advocate in the band, whereas I was more into punk and Motörhead. It was the combination that made it work.” Andy adds: “Chris wasn’t averse to punk either, he was a big fan of Die Toten Hosen for example. At that time we actually considered covering their song ‘Liebesspieler’ for Tapping The Vein but in the end we composed our own punk song, ‘Wachturm‘.” Even though the German lyrics of the song sound humorous, they have a serious background. They are based on some very bad experiences Chris had with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. His girlfriend at the time joined the sect and left him because of it.”
The new expanded editions of Sodom’s, Tapping The Vein feature the original album remastered, it also features a complete remixed version done by Andy Brings with some additional alternative takes of three album tracks, plus three live concerts: Tokyo 1992, Düsseldorf 1992 and Cologne 1992 (Chris Witchhunter´s last show with Sodom) in the super deluxe edition.
Sodom’s deluxe, expanded reissue of Tapping The Vein is available in these formats.
*Deluxe triple LP red & black swirl vinyl and double CD deluxe 24 page bookpack.
*Double, gatefold transparent red vinyl.
*Triple CD digisleeve with 24 page booklet