Thrashcast Episode 4: Sodom's "Agent Orange" from 1989
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Thrashcast is the place to find riveting discussions on classic thrash albums, news and reviews. Your hosts are three thrash loving maniacs who grew up during the golden age of the genre. Kenneth, Billy and Jim will get together weekly to bring you a deep dive on some of your favourite thrash records.
Show Notes:
Episode Four: Sodom's Agent Orange (1989). The third studio album released June 1st, 1989 on SPV/Steamhammer Records is a part of the German big three of thrash metal. The band on this release is fronted by bassist/vocals Tom Angelripper, Frank Blackfire on guitars and drummer Chris Witchhunter. The album is dedicated to all people – soldiers and civilians – who died by senseless aggression of wars all over the world.
Agent Orange is a herbicide and defoliantchemical, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. It is widely known for its use by the U.S. military as part of its chemical warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971.
The lyrical content delves deeply into Tom Angelripper's fascination with the Vietnam War, with a song dedicated to the ground assault aircraft AC-47 as well as the Agent Orange defoliant-inspired title-track. It was their first album to enter the German album charts where it reached number 36. Agent Orange sold 100,000 copies in Germany alone and marked the commercial break through for the band. The song "Ausgebombt" was released on the EP Ausgebombt with German lyrics.
Fun Fact: Don't Walk Away is a cover of Tank's original song on the 1981 EP. The album cover for Agent Orange is the second appearance of the band's mascot Knarrenheinz and featuring artwork by the great Andreas Marschall.
Kenneth Gallant, HMS
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