Sodom former guitarist passes away

Dirk Strahlmeier, former guitarist of German heavy metal outfit Sodom has passed away.

Strahlmeier performed with the band between 1995 and 1996, featuring on the group's seventh studio album, 'Masquerade in Blood'.

Sodom bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such stated the following regarding the recent loss:

"As I learned from a reliable source, our ex-guitarist Dirk 'Strahli' Strahlmeier died this month in a hospital in Düsseldorf, Germany. Currently we don't know the exact circumstances of his death. Strahli played on the album 'Masquerade In Blood' which was released in 1995 on SPV. After that we had lost contact with him. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends."